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QUALITY

In philosophy an accident that essentially completes and perfects a substance either in its being or operation. It is that attribute of something which describes what kind of thing it is. In theology, the most important qualities are divine grace, both sanctifying grace, which elevates the human soul to becoming deiform (like God), and actual grace, which enables the mind and will to perform supernatural actions. (Etym. Latin qualitas, sort, kind; property, modification, condition.)

All items in this dictionary are from Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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