The dove is an important symbolic animal in Christianity representing the Holy Spirit as divine messenger. The white dove is referred to in the story of baptism of Christ. "And John bore record, saying, I saw the Spirit descending from heaven like a dove, and it abode upon him" (Bible, John 1:32).
The descending dove is a very common motif on grave memorials. Seven doves are representative of the seven spirits of God or the Holy Spirit in its sevenfold gifts of grace.
It is a symbol of purity, devotion and divine spirit.
The dove and olive branch combined is used as a symbol of peace, further to the Christian belief of the story of Noah and the Flood (with a passage describing a dove returning to the ark with an olive leaf, a sign of life after the floods).