THE PASSING OF SIR GALAHAD

In which the brave knight passes away, and we see the last of the Holy Grail.

We left Sir Galahad and his companions in prison where, for a whole year they were fed by the Holy Grail. Every morning and night they prayed and as they finished their prayer the Holy Grail would appear and with it food and drink. So the knights ate and there was no failing of their strength, at which the king wondered greatly.

At the end of the year, the king, who had put them in prison, fell ill and was about to die. So he sent for the three knights and begged their mercy and set them free. Then the king died, and all seeing how well they were and hearing of the Holy Grail and its comforts to the prisoners, the king knew they were holy men and the people were glad, for he had been a bad and evil-minded ruler, and his repentance came too late to do good to his subjects.

While they were wondering whom they should take as king, a voice came saying: “Choose the youngest of the three knights to be your king.”

So they made Galahad king of their city. Galahad had made a table of silver and a chest of gold, and in it he put the holy vessel, and every day he and his knights came and said their prayers before it.

At the end of a year Galahad and his knights came to the holy vessel one day, and saw a man like a bishop before it, and a great crowd of angels around him. The bishop called to Galahad to come to him and partake of the holy sacrament. Galahad began to tremble, but he came and did as the bishop bade him. Then the bishop said:

“Knowest thou who I am?” And Galahad answered “No.”

“I am Joseph of Arimathea who took our Lord down from the cross, and He hath sent me hither to you because you have seen the Holy Grail, and you are a clean, pure knight who hath never done wrong.”

Then Galahad kissed his two companions and they knelt down and prayed, and while they were praying the soul of Sir Galahad departed to Heaven, and the crowd of angels bore him out of sight. At the same time a hand reached down from the sky and seized the Holy Grail and bore that to Heaven, too.

And from that time no man has ever seen the Holy Grail, but all the world remembers Sir Galahad, because he was pure and noble and worthy to have seen the wonders of the sacred vessel with which our Lord was served at the Last Supper.