Fordham University School of Education - Grail Yearbook (New York, NY)

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THEME FOR THE DIVIDED VIOLINS RHAPS the most familiar of all the'Grail romances is represented in the culminating work of Richard Wagner. In his opera, Parrifal, we find the legend vitalized with becoming dignity and artistry. Here Parrifal is the blameless fool, made wise by pity. Unaware of the significance of Monsalvat and the resolve of the X Knights who live there, he is brought, by chance, into their domain l- . . . and company. Once there he witnesses the solemn rite of the Grail X 'xx landxalso the intense sufferings of Amfortas. These things do little more thanipconfuse him until he questions the Knights concerning the cir- ctirnstances that endowed them with so sacred a treasure as the Grail and abciut the events which caused Amfortas to be wounded. He is told thatibesidie the Grail these Knights are entrusted with the Lance which pierced Christ's side and that the latter is to be used by the Knights -to defend and protect the Grail. Amfortas, Qthey advise himj was disarmiipl of the.Lance by Klingsor-a man refused admittance to the Brotherhood of Knights, because of his moral depravity. The Knights believe tlkt the woiihds of Amfortas will not heal nor the grace-giv- ing powerx of the Grail be restored until the Lance is reinstated at Monsalvahilx I i i Parsifal isxmoved by pity, by the sympathy he feels for Amfortas to go in searclt of the Lance. His departure, however, is ridiculed by the Knights as aXfool's errand, since they are certain that he-like Am- fortas-will be sdduced by Kundry, a woman in Klingsor's realm. In the succeeding action we see Parsifal in the Garden of Maidens where Kundry is trying to entice him away from his quest. He is sud- denly inspired to reproach her and realizes, for the first time, the acute need to restore the Lance. Pity is no longer his only motivation. He acts now with conviction. By near miraculous means he finally achieves the Lance. Returning to Monsalvat, he is hailed by the Knights as their new leader. All re- ceive anew the benediction of the Grail and pledge themselves to more loyal and humble service. 5

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REVEREND JOHN 1. HOOPER, 5.1. E dedicate this book to the REVEREND JOHN J. HOOPER, S.j., our new Assistant Dean. A loyal and devoted son of St. Ignatius, he has been a moral force in our midst and has helped us to develop a real concept of values. His solicitous concern for our moral, scholastic and physical needs, irrespective of time, place or circumstance, has singled him out as a zealous educator. He is our ideal of a true Knight of the Grail.

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It is curious to recall that Wagner assigned the music of the Grail Motive to the divided violins. To a relatively simple melody, carried by the first violin, the other violins play intricate harmony. Therefore, it is not without precedent that we attempt the counterpoint of the above theme. The Grail is the Relique-Royale, is the Eucharist, is truth-as-such, is Truth as grace reveals the Truth. The Lance, then, is Knowledge. We admit the distinction between Truth and Knowledge, while we remind ourselves that they should not be separated. Reflecting on these facts, can we not say that our efforts to gain an education-both in their unpretentious beginnings and in their purposeful maturation-parallel Parsifal's search for the Lance? To the degree that we achieve Knowledge we emulate his actual acquisi- tion o f the Lance. In so far as we will avail ourselves of the Source of Truth, to the extent that we will be sympathetic receptors of grace -we, too, can be Knights of the Grail. We can be but are not necessarily, Parsifals all. If this is our pro- gram for living, we must anticipate the Klingsors and Kundrys, obstacles and difficulties. We must, furthermore, constantly confess dependence on God's grace. If we recognize these conditions, we hope to use our Knowledge to protect us in our quest for Truth. this is optimistic to the point of sophistication and while we do intend such sophistication we, likewise, can not be convinced that effort will be a fool's errandf' p KATHRYN T. MCKEE the our can All not our VER i YJ? No I cyfii' Ai 1-Ai T it Yi GJ I cizieyfgg Whjpl mx? I 17 Z T5 ok? ,E .0. 152, sg l a so tirwsa 6