Stages of Formation - Pre-Novitiate
The pre-novitiate or postulancy is understood in a general sense as a preparatory time for the novitiate. Its chief purpose is to help the young man who is experiencing the possibility of a vocation, to recognize this possibility and to be able to respond (Cf. RS 11). At the same time, it is the context in which to determine whether a candidate to the novitiate has achieved sufficient maturity, a maturity that would somehow guarantee that in the future he could progressively fulfil the requirements of religious life. However, this preliminary time of probation is designed not merely to reach a tentative judgment concerning the talents and vocation of the candidate, but also to ascertain his knowledge of religious subjects and, where necessary, the deepening of them to the degree judged necessary; and lastly, to permit a gradual transition from lay life to a life proper to the novitiate. But the most important objective during this probationary period, to repeat, would be to secure assurance that the candidate for religious life is endowed with such elements of human and emotional maturity as will offer grounds for hope that he is capable of undertaking properly the obligations of the religious state and that, in the religious life and especially in the novitiate, he will be able to progress toward fuller maturity. (Cf. RC 11)
As Augustinians our Constitutions add a proper Augustinian flavour: “The pre-novitiate is the time in which candidates, even though not bound by public vows, are given a gradual experience of Augustinian lifein order that they can be adequately prepared for the novitiate” (Const. 201)
It follows, then, that the candidates are expected to have achieved a certain degree of personality development and a style of life by the completion of this stage. Some of these expectations are envisioned as requirements by the document: Directives of Formation in Religious Institutes (Cf. 43) as follows:
Human and Christian (Spiritual) maturity General cultural formation Balanced affectivity Ability to live in community under the authority of superior, etc.
To these we can add some specific Augustinian requirements like: common life, interiority, etc. (Cf. Const. 14)
The pre-novitiate can be either residential or non-residential. However, here the material considers it in a residential context. Where non-residential, it is convenient and highly recommended that in some way these elements are also incorporated in the postulancy stage or in other levels of formation. Later, especially in the Professorium, the study of philosophy and theology, combined with many different pastoral activities, will take a toll on these specific elements which are often overlooked as secondary.
As Augustinians our Constitutions add a proper Augustinian flavour: “The pre-novitiate is the time in which candidates, even though not bound by public vows, are given a gradual experience of Augustinian lifein order that they can be adequately prepared for the novitiate” (Const. 201)
It follows, then, that the candidates are expected to have achieved a certain degree of personality development and a style of life by the completion of this stage. Some of these expectations are envisioned as requirements by the document: Directives of Formation in Religious Institutes (Cf. 43) as follows:
To these we can add some specific Augustinian requirements like: common life, interiority, etc. (Cf. Const. 14)
The pre-novitiate can be either residential or non-residential. However, here the material considers it in a residential context. Where non-residential, it is convenient and highly recommended that in some way these elements are also incorporated in the postulancy stage or in other levels of formation. Later, especially in the Professorium, the study of philosophy and theology, combined with many different pastoral activities, will take a toll on these specific elements which are often overlooked as secondary.