The Pure Hearts That Achieve The Grail
The famous stories of King Arthur and His Knights by Howard Pyle consist of many adventures of noble knights fighting on behalf of beautiful ladies and King Arthur’s court. These knights seek to achieve honor and glory. But that honor and glory are usually earned by partaking in outward quests: deeds of arms and chivalry. Yet there is one adventure that is set apart from the rest, for, to achieve it, one must be pure in heart. That beautiful quest is that of the Holy Grail. In the following, we will journey with two successful knights and one that fails, and discover how only the pure can achieve Christ’s Holy Grail.
The first pure knight that we will examine is Sir Galahad. When Sir Galahad is first introduced into Pyle’s King Arthur, he is described as follows: “…a youth of eighteen years of age, very tall and fair, and clad from top to toe of white silk.” (pg 68-69). This scene takes place when young Galahad is finally introduced to his father, Sir Lancelot. In that scene, Galahad’s young age could represent his innocence, and his white clothing could represent the purity of his soul.
Throughout Sir Galahad’s life, that purity of heart helps the young but chivalrous knight overcome many evils. Here is Galahad’s response to some maidens after he had overthrown ten powerful knights: “Nay, that strength and that prowess I gave not to myself; therefore, if I have shown prowess, give praise therefore unto the God who gave them to me, and not to me who am their continent.” (pg. 95). In that response, Galahad shows impressive humility. His response also reveals the purity of his soul, which ultimately allows him to accomplish the Grail.
Like Sir Galahad, there is another knight with a pure heart: Sir Percival. Sir Percival, knight of the Round Table, also attempts to accomplish the quest that only the knights with the purest hearts can achieve. Even as Percival rides in search of the Grail, he is tested in great measures, but still continues to prove his worthiness. Even when he is deceived by the mischievous sorceress, Vivien, he leans on God and trusts our Savior’s saving grace to guide him out of trouble. Here is what Sir Percival does and says when he asks for our Lord Father’s help in the moment of his confusion – the moment that Percival is tempted by abundant wine and Vivien’s deceptive love: “’God! God! God! What is this I would do, and why should I sin in this wise?’ And therewith he drew upon his forehead the sign of the cross.” (The Story of Sir Percival). When Percival shows this quiet reliance on God, he not only conquers the grave sin that Vivien had placed in front of him, but also reveals the true purity of his heart.
Unlike Sir Galahad and Sir Percival, there is one important knight who is not able to accomplish the Grail, and that knight is Sir Lancelot of the Lake, Galahad’s father. Sir Lancelot is known to be the greatest knight in the world besides his own son, Galahad. He would be able to achieve the Grail if it weren’t for his own impure love for Guinevere. Here is Roger Lancelyn Green’s version of Lancelot’s and Guinevere’s fateful kiss:
“Guinevere drew near to him and kissed him on the lips; then she turned and glided away through the twilight, passing amidst the flowers from which all the colours had gone, leaving them gray in the dying light. But Launcelot stood quite still with the last sunbeam on his face, and he trembled…” (pg. 352).
Though this takes place after the Grail is achieved, that unfaithful kiss is the culmination of Launcelot’s hidden love for Guinevere. It is that love that is Sir Launcelot of the Lake’s sin, which makes his heart impure, preventing him from accomplishing anything more than a glimpse of the Holy Grail in a vision.
There are many famous adventures in King Arthur and His Knights. However, the most important adventure is that of the Holy Grail. One must overcome the most important challenges: the inward ones. One must differentiate between right and wrong, and always choose the good. One must rely on Christ and not lean on his own understanding, and be courteous, chivalrous, and brave. One must be pure in heart and spirit in everything he does or says. Those are the rare qualities that one must possess in order to achieve the Grail.
