Canon 1026. For a person to be ordained, he must enjoy the requisite freedom. It is absolutely wrong to compel anyone, in any way or for any reason whatsoever, to receive orders, or to turn away from orders anyone who is canonically suitable.

Ut quis ordinetur debita libertate gaudeat oportet; nefas est quemquam, quovis modo, ob quamlibet causam ad ordines recipiendos cogere, vel canonice idoneum ab iisdem recipiendis avertere.

Canon 1027. Aspirants to the diaconate and the priesthood are to be formed by careful preparation in accordance with the law.

Aspirantes ad diaconatum et presbyteratum accurata praeparatione efformentur, ad normam iuris.

Canon 1028. The diocesan Bishop or the competent Superior must ensure that before they are promoted to any order, candidates are properly instructed concerning the order itself and its obligations.

Curet Episcopus dioecesanus aut Superior competens ut candidati, antequam ad ordinem aliquem promoveantur, rite edoceantur de iis, quae ad ordinem eiusque obligationes pertinent.

Canon 1029. Only those are to be promoted to orders who, in the prudent judgement of the proper Bishop or the competent major Superior, all things considered, have sound faith, are motivated by the right intention, are endowed with the requisite knowledge, enjoy a good reputation, and have moral probity, proven virtue and the other physical and psychological qualities appropriate to the order to be received.

Ad ordines ii soli promoveantur qui, prudenti iudicio Episcopi proprii aut Superioris maioris competentis, omnibus perpensis, integram habent fidem, recta moventur intentione, debita pollent scientia, bona gaudent existimatione, integris moribus probatisque virtutibus atque aliis qualitatibus physicis et psychicis ordini recipiendo congruentibus sunt praediti.

Canon 1030. The proper Bishop or the competent major Superior may, but only for a canonical reason, even one which is occult, forbid admission to the priesthood to deacons subject to them who were destined for the priesthood, without prejudice to recourse in accordance with the law.

Nonnisi ex causa canonica, licet occulta, proprius Episcopus vel Superior maior competens diaconis ad presbyteratum destinatis, sibi subditis, ascensum ad presbyteratum interdicere potest, salvo recursu ad normam iuris.

Canon 1031. §1 The priesthood may be conferred only upon those who have completed their twenty-fifth year of age, and possess a sufficient maturity; moreover, an interval of at least six months between the diaconate and the priesthood must have been observed. Those who are destined for the priesthood are to be admitted to the order of diaconate only when they have completed their twenty-third year.

§2 A candidate for the permanent diaconate who is not married may be admitted to the diaconate only when he has completed at least his twenty-fifth year; if he is married, not until he has completed at least his thirty-fifth year, and then with the consent of his wife.

§3 Episcopal Conferences may issue a regulation which requires a later age for the priesthood and for the permanent diaconate.

§4 A dispensation of more than a year from the age required by §§1 and 2 is reserved to the Apostolic See.

§1. Presbyteratus ne conferatur nisi iis qui aetatis annum vigesimum quintum expleverint et sufficienti gaudeant maturitate, servato insuper intervallo sex saltem mensium inter diaconatum et presbyteratum; qui ad presbyteratum destinantur, ad diaconatus ordinem tantummodo post expletum aetatis annum vigesimum tertium admittantur.

§2. Candidatus ad diaconatum permanentem qui non sit uxoratus ad eundem diaconatum ne admittatur, nisi post expletum vigesimum quintum saltem aetatis annum; qui matrimonio coniunctus est, nonnisi post expletum trigesimum quintum saltem aetatis annum, atque de uxoris consensu.

§3. Integrum est Episcoporum conferentiis normam statuere, qua provectior ad presbyteratum et ad diaconatum permanentem requiratur aetas.

§4. Dispensatio ultra annum super aetate requisita ad normam §§1 et 2, Apostolicae Sedi reservatur.

Canon 1032. §1 Aspirants to the priesthood may be promoted to the diaconate only when they have completed the fifth year of the curriculum of philosophical and theological studies.

§2 After completing the curriculum of studies and before being promoted to the priesthood, deacons are to spend an appropriate time, to be determined by the Bishop or by the competent major Superior, exercising the diaconal order and taking part in the pastoral ministry.

§3 An aspirant to the permanent diaconate is not to be promoted to this order until he has completed the period of formation.

§1. Aspirantes ad presbyteratum promoveri possunt ad diaconatum solummodo post expletum quintum curriculi studiorum philosophico-theologicorum annum.

§2. Post expletum studiorum curriculum, diaconus per tempus congruum, ab Episcopo vel a Superiore maiore competenti definiendum, in cura pastorali partem habeat, diaconalem exercens ordinem, antequam ad presbyteratum promoveatur.

§3. Aspirans ad diaconatum permanentem, ad hunc ordinem ne promoveatur nisi post expletum formationis tempus.