Summary
The Quest of the Holy Grail is the fourth of a set of five books commonly referred to as the Vulgate Cycle. The Quest was written around 1210 by an unknown author and translated by Pauline Matarasso in 1969. This book follows different knights as they quest for the grail but the story focuses the quest completion by Sir Galahad.
Sir Galahad is the son of Sir Lancelot and Princess Elaine of Corbenic. Conceived through trickery, Lancelot never knew he had a son until Galahad entered Lancelot’s life as a teen wishing to be knighted by his father and sent on a quest. Galahad gets his wish and is knighted by Lancelot prior to sitting in the Seat of Danger, meant only for the greatest knight ever as well as removing the sword from the floating stone that indicates the same reputation. The night that Galahad arrives in the castle everyone sees and eats from the grail, after which the grail disappears and the knights set out on a quest to find it. Galahad acquires a shield of importance and sets out on his quest for the grail. Galahad frees the Castle of Maidens, defeats Lancelot, obtains a special sword and scabbard and visits with Lancelot all before arriving at the grail castle. In this time we also have Lancelot time and again failing to prove himself worthy of the quest due to his lust, either for Guinevere or for the grail itself. Perceval quests as well, but barely passes when he is tested by demons. To pass the tests these knights went through, one simply had to have pure faith and trust in God, and not for a single second doubt. |
Galahad, now at the grail castle, meets Jesus who tells him what he has to do now. Galahad then heals the wounded king and removes the grail from Britain. As a result, Britain and the round table are destroyed because the grace of God has been removed. Galahad becomes mistakenly imprisoned but on the kings deathbed he realizes his mistake and frees Galahad. Galahad becomes king, but wishes to be taken to heaven to be with the Father. A year later his final wish is granted and Galahad’s soul is visibly taken to heaven. Immediately after, the grail is taken by the hands of God and disappears from the world forever. And thus ends the Quest of the Holy Grail.