Baptism

The Mystery of Baptism

"God shows that the grace of the Spirit is turned away by carnal impurity and the pollution of grave sin. Upon which, God, willing to restore what was lacking, sent the flood and bade just Noah go up into the ark. And he, after having, as the flood was passing off, sent forth first a raven which did not return, sent forth a dove which is said to have returned with an olive twig. You see the water, you see the wood, of the ark, you see the dove, and do you hesitate as to the mystery of baptism?" -- St. Ambrose, On the Mysteries