Collective nouns are not my strong point, so I had to look up the one designated to a group of pelicans. A pod stands first in the queue, then squadron, then fleet; and of the three, squadron I think suits best, for pod seems too associated with whales and peas, and fleet does not capture the bird’s impressive formation in the air. But squadron describes well their command of the water, and their sophistication in flight, and their eye for the target.

The pelican has long been associated with the Christian Church as an emblem of loving sacrifice. The bird is often depicted in religious art with its chest pierced and bleeding, self-inflicted with wounds, in order to feed its young with its blood in times of extremity. The image would be heroic, if it were true; but unfortunately the Church took the symbol too quickly without checking the facts.

There is only one instance in the history of the world where it is true, where a body was pierced in order to feed life to others. And there is no collective noun to describe this instance, for it was done a single person and not a group of anything. Not a squadron of angels, but a singular Saviour. Not a pod of Pastors, but a unique Prophet, Priest and King. Not a fleet of Church Fathers, but one Name given under heaven by which we may be saved. And about that fact, the Church has always got it right.