NOVICE

(Lat. nov it i us.) A person admitted into a reyears. ligious community as an inmate, for the purpose of preparation for becoming a member. The state of preparation is termed novitiate. The custom of giving novices the religious dre did not begin until the 12th century. The age of profe ion is fixed by the Council of Trent at sixteen years. During the period of the novitiate the novice is still at liberty to relinquish his intention. The term novice was applied to recruits in the ancient Roman soldiery; from which cirusage. cum stance it appears to have been borrowed in ecclesiastical NOVI HOMINES, among the Romans, were such persons as,by their own personal merit, had raised themselves to curule dignities without the aid of family connexions. This reproach, as is well known, was addre ed by Cat i line to Cicero. [s. 850]