John A.

Agarpao October 13, 2020

Reflection Paper on the Code of Canon Law

The word Code of Canon Law is not new anymore to me because I already heard about it
even when I was in the aspirancy program. My companions are very fund of using the term
according to the code of canon law, especially when they are debating with each other with
regards of Church matters that it seems they are really very knowledgeable about it. But it was
my first time here in the Novitiate house to attend class about it.

The two day class with Fr. Esmeraldo T. Enalpe, OFM via zoom was a very helpful one
even though to stay focus and awake was a challenging one during the online session. There was
really a big difference between the face to face class and via online class.

During the first day of our session Fr. Enalpe gave us the preview of what the code of the
canon law is, such as an overview. One definition during the session retain to my mind, that
the canon law of the Catholic Church is the system of laws and legal principles made and
enforced by the hierarchical authorities of the Catholic Church to regulate its external
organization and government and to order and direct the activities of Catholics toward the
mission of the Church.

During our second day session he gave us some glimpse on the process of the Departure,
Transfer and Dismissal on the order. Moreover, he also shared us about the process of being in
the Novitiate house which really made me focus on the topic. I learned about how the Novitiate
formation of one candidate would be valid and not valid.

In such a case, honestly speaking I felt little bit unsatisfied with the two days session, the
feeling that I want to know more of it. I want to learn more about the codes like the old Filipino
adage would remind us that, Lamang ang may alam (To be knowledgeable is better). I want to be
knowledgeable in the sense that, it would really help me upon my chosen vocation. Moreover, I
was also reminded that the codes of canon law was not made to condemned and to be used to
judge others but the codes was made to be used to protect and preserve ones vocation. In this
regards, I realize that the codes of the canon law is really important to be study.