I am Sr Soja. I belong to a religious congregation caring for the destitute and abandoned. According to our constitutions, the period of Juniorate lasts six years, which may be extended to nine years according to the judgement of the superior general and council. But two sisters from my senior batch were posted to a new mission station to be opened in Rome by anticipating their perpetual profession by three months, while others made their profession only after the completion of six years. This year my brother priest is selected for pursuing PhD in France. My brother desired to participate in my perpetual profession ceremony. So, I applied in writing to my superior general requesting to anticipate my profession by four months. But she did not agree to it. If they could allow two of the sisters to anticipate their profession, why did they deny the favour for me? Please explain also the importance of the document of the act of profession.
Conditions for a Valid Perpetual Profession
To answer your query, let us look into the canons on the conditions for the validity of perpetual profession. According to CIC cc. 658, 656 and CCEO cc. 464, 532 and 526, the following are the conditions: 1) that the person should have completed at least twenty-one years of age; 2) there has been previous temporary profession for at least 3 years; 3) that the person has renewed the profession according to the norms of law; 4) the admission has been granted freely and in accordance with the norms of law, by the competent superior after a vote of their council…..
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