The Dove

The Holy Spirit. At the Baptism of Christ, “he saw the Spirit of God descending like a dove, and alighting on him” (Matthew 3:16). Ever since, a white dove in rays of light stands for the Holy Spirit, above the Baptism, at Pentecost and at the Annunciation.

Peace. After the Flood the dove came back to Noah with an olive leaf in its beak, a sign that the waters had gone down and God’s anger had passed (Genesis 8:11).

The soul. A dove rising from a dying saint is the soul going to God. St Benedict saw the soul of his sister, St Scholastica, rise to heaven as a dove.

The offering of the poor. Mary and Joseph offered two young doves when they presented Jesus in the Temple (Luke 2:24), the offering the Law allowed to those who could not afford a lamb.

St Francis. Francis is shown with doves and other birds because he preached to the birds and loved every creature as a brother or sister.