TGC 558 – Deus Vult and the Knightly Ideal

The Gottesdienst Crowd

In this episode, we discuss the resurgence of the Deus Vult meme. What began as an internet rallying cry has tapped into something deeper: a longing for courage, honor, and transcendence in an age that often mocks those very virtues.

We’ll explore how people are reclaiming the image of the knight—not as a relic of the past, but as a symbol of moral clarity and spiritual warfare. What does this say about our cultural moment?

Along the way, we’ll hear from literary giants who understood the power of myth and chivalry:

“Fairy tales do not tell children that dragons exist. Children already know that dragons exist. Fairy tales tell children that dragons can be killed.”
— G. K. Chesterton

And C. S. Lewis reminds us why the knightly ideal still matters:

“Since it is so likely that they will meet cruel enemies, let them at least have heard of brave knights and heroic courage. Otherwise you are making their destiny not brighter but darker.”
— C. S. Lewis, The Necessity of Chivalry

Join us as we trace the Deus Vult phenomenon from meme culture to meaningful cultural critique—examining how the knightly ideal offers a vision of virtue, discipline, and holy purpose in a world seemingly gone mad.

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Host: Fr. Jason Braaten

Regular Guest: Fr. Larry Beane

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