They think that Uniates will be made Latins as soon as the Pope has got his hand in; they hate them, as renegades and apostates, even more than they hate us who were born in Latin darkness. Their idea of the Catholic Church is hard to fathom. In principle they should say, and when urged they do say, that only Monophysites are the true Church of Christ. But practically all they demand is to be recognized and let alone. They make no kind of effort to convert the millions of Dyophysite heretics who surround them. In vain have I tried to make Coptic clergy see that they ought to missionize us and to set up a proper Monophysite Patriarch of Rome. When one assures them that one is not offended, they will admit that Pius X is a hardened Dyophysite (which, of course, he is). They believe that St. Peter founded the Roman See, and that his successor should be the first of Patriarchs; but they shake their heads over the present state of Rome. I suppose the legitimate Roman Patriarchate collapsed when Leo I signed his Tome. As for the Immaculate Conception, they have so extreme a devotion to the Blessed Virgin, and are so convinced of her freedom from all sin, that it would go hard if they did not admit her freedom from original sin too.[1] The title Theotókos is one of their great watchwords, as we might guess from its origin. It occurs repeatedly in their liturgy. You may say what you like about a Monophysite, but you cannot say that he is a Nestorian.
In all other matters they agree with us, except that they share the usual Eastern vagueness on many points. The Eastern Churches have had no scholastic period. The Copts say the Nicene Creed in their liturgy and understand all of it (except the Filioque and the "Catholic Church") exactly as we do. They believe in the same Sacraments. Mr. Butler puts as the title of a chapter in his book, "The Seven Sacraments."[2] Beth says this is incorrect, that the Copts have no idea of a special category of seven "mysteries," but look upon every ritual action done by a priest as a "mystery."[3] This is true enough; but our seven are all there and only need to be classified. A word or two will be
- ↑ I know one Coptic priest who said that he certainly believed the Mother of God to be free from all stain of original sin, but that he did not believe in the Immaculate Conception, because that is what the Uniates say.
- ↑ Ancient Coptic Churches, ii. chap. vii. p. 262.
- ↑ Oriental. Christenheit, p. 414.
