Chapter III. Religious Profession

PROFESSION is the promise lawfully made and accepted by which a religious binds himself to observe the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience, according to the constitutions of his order.

For the validity of any religious profession whatever it is required: (1) That he who makes it be of the legitimate age, so that he must have completed for the temporary profession, his sixteenth year, and for the perpetual profession whether solemn or simple, his twenty-first year.

(2) That the legitimate superior according to the constitutions admit him to profession.

(3) That it be preceded by a valid novitiate according to the terms of Canon 555.

(4) That the profession be free from violence, grave fear, or fraud. -(5) That it be expressed in formal terms.

(6) That it be received by the legitimate superior according to the constitutions, either personally or by delegate.

(7) For the validity of the perpetual profession, whether solemn or simple, it is required besides that it be preceded by a temporary simple profession. Except in the case of a professed religious who joins another institute, in every order with solemn vows both of men and of women, and in every congregation with perpetual vows, the perpetual vows, whether solemn or simple, must be preceded by the profession of simple vows, which the novice on the completion of his novitiate shall make in the novitiate house itself, this profession is valid for three years, or for a longer period if the subject requires more than three years to attain the age prescribed for perpetual profession, unless the constitutions require annual profession (Can. 572-574).

Simple profession, whether temporary or perpetual, renders acts contrary to the vows illicit, but not invalid, unless it be otherwise formally expressed; while solemn profession renders such acts also invalid if they can be nullified (Can. 579).