“And after that forty days were passed, Noe, opening the window of the ark which he had made, sent forth a raven: which went forth and did not return, till the waters were dried up upon the earth. He sent forth also a dove after him, to see if the waters had now ceased upon the face of the earth. But she, not finding where her foot might rest, returned to him into the ark: for the waters were upon the whole earth: and he put forth his hand, and caught her, and brought her into the ark. And having waited yet seven other days, he again sent forth the dove out of the ark. And she came to him in the evening, carrying a bough of an olive tree, with green leaves, in her mouth. Noe therefore understood that the waters were ceased upon the earth. And he stayed yet other seven days: and he sent forth the dove, which returned not any more unto him.”
Noah first sends out a raven, which is an unclean animal: “Of birds these are they which you must not eat, and which are to be avoided by you… All that is of the raven kind, according to their likeness” (Leviticus 11:13-15), which represents those who are washed in the laver of baptism, but remain in the black, ragged garments of an unclean life: “Now whoever shall be defiled with the leprosy, and is separated by the judgment of the priest, shall have his clothes hanging loose” (Leviticus 13:45), or that go forth from Catholic teaching and pervert holy truth and the name of Christian with desires of the world and falsehood: “This people honoureth me with their lips: but their heart is far from me. And in vain do they worship me, teaching doctrines and commandments of men” (Matthew 15:8-9). These are those that claim to love God in word, but in deed renounce Him, for love is not merely words said but in a life of love: “My little children, let us not love in word, nor in tongue, but in deed, and in truth” (1 John 3:18). Therefore, the raven is the one that, knowing the mercy of Christ and the radiance of the Catholic Church for a short time, then departs from this love in favor of its own pleasures: “He that received the seed upon stony ground, is he that heareth the word, and immediately receiveth it with joy. Yet hath he not root in himself, but is only for a time” (Matthew 13:20-21). It is said that Scipio Nasica was hesitant to destroy Carthage in the Punic Wars, because he thought that without the threat of external conflict, Rome would lose its vigilance, and thereby collapse in on itself in luxury and vice, and this too can be the raven, the one who flies to the arms of Christ in the storm of the flood, but when it is resolved, flying out from the security of the ark of the Church and not returning. Thus is the threat of the devil made into a good, that you may not fall into laxity due to the need to keep yourself from his snares: “Be sober and watch: because your adversary the devil, as a roaring lion, goeth about seeking whom he may devour. Whom resist ye, strong in faith” (1 Peter 5:8-9), which in turn drives you ever deeper into the love and security found in God: “Our God is our refuge and strength: a helper in troubles, which have found us exceedingly” (Psalm 45:2). After this, Noah sends a dove, which has many meanings, but in contrast with the raven, it is the one that after receiving the grace of baptism, consistently returns to the sacraments, for not finding a place in which her heart can rest, returns to the Beloved in His truth and the life of grace, reaching spiritual maturity in the sacrament of confirmation, at which time the oil of chrism is given, and they receive the full expression of the Holy Spirit, now strengthened to live a mature life of love: “They were only baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. Then they laid their hands upon them, and they received the Holy Ghost” (Acts 8:16-17), then being strong enough to go out into the apostolate. The dove can also represent Christ Himself, who departed from His fledgling Church in His death before returning for a time, then leaving for heaven in His ascension before returning into the hearts of His people by the indwelling of the Holy Spirit, which is signified by the olive branch: “But you are not in the flesh, but in the spirit, if so be that the Spirit of God dwell in you” (Romans 8:9). An olive branch is also a symbol of peace, and the spousal bond that is the state of grace is the greatest sign of peace between you and Christ, that the Father so desires peace between you and Him that He offers His Son as your spouse, just as kings of old would marry their children to those of other rulers that peace may exist between them: “And the kingdom was established in the hand of Solomon, and he made affinity with Pharoa the king of Egypt: for he took his daughter, and brought her into the city of David” (3 Kings 3:1). Finally, the dove is sent out and does not return, which does not indicate that one outgrows the sacraments, for they are the life of your soul until you are in heaven, but rather a sending out, that being strengthened in truth and receiving Christ’s love, you may go out into the harsh sun of the vineyard, to labor in love to bring His love to others, thus does the bride say: “I am black but beautiful, O ye daughters of Jerusalem… Do not consider me that I am brown, because the sun hath altered my colour” (Canticle 1:4-5), because much labor has altered the white beauty of spiritual birth. Just as a baby grows into a matured and wrinkled, yet still beautiful appearance, you too are called out of enjoyment of the Beloved to labor in His vineyards: “Go you also into my vineyard, and I will give you what shall be just” (Matthew 20:4), but you must always strengthen yourself on His love, and return to His sacraments, that He may wash any dirt you kicked up onto your feet: “He that is washed, needeth not but to wash his feet, but is clean wholly” (John 13:10), and renew your bond of love on a daily basis: “Come to me, all you that labor, and are burdened, and I will refresh you” (Matthew 11:28).