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Kinds of Perfection

1910 New Catholic Dictionary

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1910 New Catholic Dictionary
• Perfection, Kinds of
• Kinds of Perfection

Perfection is the complete possession of an attribute, a state of supreme excellence to which nothing is lacking. We may distinguish four principal types.

• Metaphysical perfection is unlimited being, complete reality; when this obtains without any conceivable limitation, as with God, it is absolute; when it signifies this completeness in only one phase of reality, it is relative or partial, such as perfect adaptation to an end, or realization of our own essence. When a perfection is intrinsically limited, like sentient life, it is called mixed; intrinsically without limit, like goodness, it is simple. Only these latter may be predicated of God.
• Moral perfection is the full attainment of the moral ideal, the complete fulfilment of the moral law.
• Christian perfection is a state of union with God through charity.
• Religious perfection is a condition of observance of the Evangelical Counsels through the triple vows.

See also Christian perfection.