Why Is a Wild Goose a Symbol of the Holy Spirit?

The Holy Ghost is generally depicted as a dove, but to the early Celtic Christians, He was a wild goose, wild, untamed, and surprising.

From Aleteia

By Philip Kosloski

Normally associated with a dove, the Holy Spirit has also been connected to a wild goose, a bird that has very different characteristics.

In most Christian art, the Holy Spirit is symbolized by a white dove. This tradition is rooted in the Bible and has a particular meaning.

The dove is seen in the Bible at the baptism of Jesus, but is also frequently represented in Christian art in other biblical episodes, such as the Annunciation, when Mary was greeted with the news that she would bear the Son of God and conceived by the Spirit.

Many early Christians saw the direct connection between the Holy Spirit and the incarnation of Jesus, prompting them to build tabernacles that contained the Eucharist in the form of a dove suspended over the altar.

Furthermore, the dove, with its pure white feathers, calls to mind the purity of God, and its swift flight in the air reminds us of the many movements of the Holy Spirit in our soul. It is a beautiful image, one that has lasted throughout the centuries.

The wild goose

In what appears to be a stark contrast, some early Christians also saw the Holy Spirit as a “wild goose.” Instead of a peaceful dove that can be tamed, these Christians saw the Holy Spirit as wild and untamable.

This concept is often credited to early Celtic Christians, who saw the movements of the Holy Spirit in a much different way. The meaning behind this peculiar choice is because they saw how the Holy Spirit has a tendency to disrupt and surprise. The Holy Spirit moves in our lives in an unexpected fashion, similar to the actions of a wild goose.

We can see this spiritual truth in our own lives, but also in the lives of the saints. St. Augustine’s life was disrupted when he was prompted by the Holy Spirit to “Take up and read!” St. Francis of Assisi was also taken by surprise when he heard the words, “Rebuild my church.”

Jesus in the Gospel of John has a similar description of the action of the Holy Spirit:

“The wind blows where it wills, and you hear the sound of it, but you do not know whence it comes or whither it goes; so it is with every one who is born of the Spirit.” (John 3:8)

The Holy Spirit is not one to keep us in a state of comfort, but will likely move us in such a way that we are constantly surprised and put on a new path that we never expected.