Novitiate
NOVITIATE
A year of probation appointed for the trial of religious, whether or no they have a vocation, and the necessary qualities for living up to the rule, the observation whereof they are to bind themselves to by vow. The novitiate lasts a year at least; in some houses more. It is esteemed the bed of the civil death of a novice, who expires to the world by profession.
Fuente: Theological Dictionary
novitiate
A novice is one who having been regularly admitted into a religious order, and already confirmed in higher vocation by a certain period of probation as a postulant, is prepared by a series of exercises and tests for the religious profession; this period is known as the novitiate. The institution of a time of trial to prepare the religious candidate for his future career is a very ancient one dating from at least the 5th century. No specific length of time for the novitiate is required by canon law; hence it varies with different orders.
Fuente: New Catholic Dictionary
Novitiate
the time of probation, as well as of preparatory training, which in all religious orders precedes the solemn Profession (q.v.). Under the head of MONACHISM will be found the general principles by which the training for the religious life is regulated. It will be enough to refer here to the article NOVICE.