Master of novices
Encyclopedia
The master of novices or novice master is a term used in the Roman Catholic Church
to refer those religious to whom is committed the training of the novices and the government of the novitiate
of a religious order
or congregation. His duty is to see that the time devoted to the period of the novitiate be passed in prayer
, meditation
, and the development of character through a study of the "Life of Christ" and of the saints, church history, and the vows and the constitution of his order or congregation. Within the time of this probation
, he must make a report about each novice to the proper authorities regarding these matters. For this purpose, he is to be free from all other duties and offices. Strictly speaking, he is not a religious superior according to the definition of Canon law
although he has the same rights and duties over the novices as a religious superior has over his subjects. Canon law has prescribed that he must be at least 35 years of age, have been ten years a religious from his first profession and be eminent in prudence
, charity
, piety
, and in the observance of the rules and regulations of his religious society. If this society is one in which a great many of its members may be raised to the priesthood (within a clerical institute), the master of novices must be priest
.
Roman Catholic Church
The Catholic Church, also known as the Roman Catholic Church, is the world's largest Christian church, with over a billion members. Led by the Pope, it defines its mission as spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ, administering the sacraments and exercising charity...
to refer those religious to whom is committed the training of the novices and the government of the novitiate
Novitiate
Novitiate, alt. noviciate, is the period of training and preparation that a novice monastic or member of a religious order undergoes prior to taking vows in order to discern whether they are called to the religious life....
of a religious order
Religious order
A religious order is a lineage of communities and organizations of people who live in some way set apart from society in accordance with their specific religious devotion, usually characterized by the principles of its founder's religious practice. The order is composed of initiates and, in some...
or congregation. His duty is to see that the time devoted to the period of the novitiate be passed in prayer
Prayer
Prayer is a form of religious practice that seeks to activate a volitional rapport to a deity through deliberate practice. Prayer may be either individual or communal and take place in public or in private. It may involve the use of words or song. When language is used, prayer may take the form of...
, meditation
Meditation
Meditation is any form of a family of practices in which practitioners train their minds or self-induce a mode of consciousness to realize some benefit....
, and the development of character through a study of the "Life of Christ" and of the saints, church history, and the vows and the constitution of his order or congregation. Within the time of this probation
Probation
Probation literally means testing of behaviour or abilities. In a legal sense, an offender on probation is ordered to follow certain conditions set forth by the court, often under the supervision of a probation officer...
, he must make a report about each novice to the proper authorities regarding these matters. For this purpose, he is to be free from all other duties and offices. Strictly speaking, he is not a religious superior according to the definition of Canon law
Canon law (Catholic Church)
The canon law of the Catholic Church, is a fully developed legal system, with all the necessary elements: courts, lawyers, judges, a fully articulated legal code and principles of legal interpretation. It lacks the necessary binding force present in most modern day legal systems. The academic...
although he has the same rights and duties over the novices as a religious superior has over his subjects. Canon law has prescribed that he must be at least 35 years of age, have been ten years a religious from his first profession and be eminent in prudence
Prudence
Prudence is the ability to govern and discipline oneself by the use of reason. It is classically considered to be a virtue, and in particular one of the four Cardinal virtues .The word comes from Old French prudence , from Latin...
, charity
Charity (virtue)
In Christian theology charity, or love , means an unlimited loving-kindness toward all others.The term should not be confused with the more restricted modern use of the word charity to mean benevolent giving.- Caritas: altruistic love :...
, piety
Piety
In spiritual terminology, piety is a virtue that can mean religious devotion, spirituality, or a combination of both. A common element in most conceptions of piety is humility.- Etymology :...
, and in the observance of the rules and regulations of his religious society. If this society is one in which a great many of its members may be raised to the priesthood (within a clerical institute), the master of novices must be priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
.