Catholic Dictionary
Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.
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ESSE
The term "to be" used as a noun. It is the act of existence. In finite beings it is their principle of existence as distinguished from their essence or nature. Only in God are essence and existence the same. (Etym. latin esse, to be; being, existence.)
