Genesis 8:11 (WEB)
The dove came back to him at evening and, behold, in her mouth was a freshly plucked olive leaf. So Noah knew that the waters were abated from the earth.
Catechism · 1
“At the end of the flood, whose symbolism refers to Baptism, a dove released by Noah returns with a fresh olive-tree branch in its beak as a sign that the earth was again habitable.” — Catechism footnote: Cf. Gen 8:8-12.
Fathers and councils · 5
John Damascene
“Olive oil is employed in baptism as a significant of our anointing, and as making us anointed, and as announcing to us through the Holy Spirit God’s pity: for it was the fruit of the olive that the dove brought to those who were saved from the flood.” — editor's note: Gen. viii. 11.
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Ambrose of Milan
“The Synagogue has not this oil, inasmuch as she has not the olive, and understood not that dove which brought back the olive branch after the deluge.” — editor's note: Gen. viii. 11.
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Jerome
“But as soon as the foul bird of wickedness is driven away, the dove of the Holy Spirit comes to Noah as it came afterwards to Christ in the Jordan, and, carrying in its beak a branch betokening restoration and light, brings tidings of peace to the whole world.” — editor's note: Gen. viii. 8, 11.
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Gregory of Nazianzus
“…was God, through its union with God) by being seen in a bodily form; and moreover, the Dove has from distant ages been wont to proclaim the end of the Deluge.” — editor's note: Ib. viii. 11.
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Augustine of Hippo
“When, then, it was sent forth, it brought an olive branch; but it had not leaves alone, it had also fruit.” — editor's note: Gen. viii. 8–11.
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Cross-references · 1
Cited together in Catechism §701.