And the Holy Spirit descended in a bodily shape like a dove upon him, and a voice came from heaven, which said,
You are my beloved Son; in you I am well pleased.
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George Leo Haydock
AD 1849
The reason why the Holy Spirit showed himself in the shape of a dove, was because he could not be seen in the substance of his divinity. But why a dove? To express that simplicity acquired in the sacrament of baptism. Be ye simple as doves; to signify that peace bestowed by baptism, and prefigured by the olive branch which the dove carried back to the ark, a true figure of the Church, and which was the only security from the destructive deluge. (St. Ambrose)
You will object: Christ, though he was God, would not be baptized till the age of 30, and do you order baptism to be received sooner? When you say, though he was God, you solve the difficulty. For, he stood not in need of being purified at all; of course, there could be no danger in deferring his baptism. But you will have much to answer for, if, being born in corruption, you pass out of this world without the garment of in corruption. (St. Gregory of Nazianzus, orat. 40.) Remarks on the two Genealogies of Jesus Christ. To make so...
