ay souls that should not die, and save the souls alive that
should not live. This is true of these ravens, the teachers of the
Law. They call those righteous who live according to the letter of the
Law, and yet these are the very souls which do not live. On the other
hand, they condemn those who violate their traditions, just as the
Pharisees condemned the disciples when they plucked ears of corn, when
they did not wash their hands and when they failed to fast. This is an
outcry, fierce and dismal, reminding us of ravens which sit upon
corpses.

115. When cursing a wicked person, the Greeks said, "To the ravens!"
Similarly, the Germans use the expression, "May the ravens devour
you." If we make this curse an element of the allegory, its serious
character becomes evident. For what is more deplorably disastrous than
to have teachers, the outcome of whose best teaching is death, and who
ensnare the conscience with difficulties that cannot be disentangled?
Though some say this allegory of the raven is inaptly applied to the
priesthood, it is true nevertheless and agrees with the fundamental
truth, and it is not only most apt, but very profitable for
instruction.

116. On the other hand, the incident of the dove is a most delightful
picture of the gospel, especially if you carefully consider the
characteristics of the dove. Ten of these are usually enumerated: 1.
It is without guile. 2. It does not harm with its mouth. 3. It does
not harm with its claws. 4. It gathers pure grains. 5. It nourishes
the young of others. 6. Its song is a sigh. 7. It abides by the
waters. 8. It flies in flocks. 9. It nests in safe places. 10. Its
flight is swift. These ten characteristics have been set forth in six
verses, as follows:

Free from guile is the dove; the bite of her beak does not injure;
Wounds her claws do not strike; pure is the grain that she eats.
Frequent and swift is her flight to shining courses of water.
List to her voice, and lo! sighs you will hear but no song!
Other nestlings she rears; in swarms she flies through the ether.
Safe is the place and high where she prepares her abode.

117. The New Testament tells us the Holy Spirit appeared in the form
of a dove (Mt 3, 16). Hence, we are justified in using the dove as an
allegory of the ministry of grace.

118. Moses implies that the dove did not fly aimlessly about the ark,
as did the raven, but having been sent out and finding no place to
rest, it