Gurnemanz is almost overcome with joy when he hears the young man declare that he has brought back the sacred lance undefiled, although he has suffered much to defend it from countless foes who would fain have wrested it from him.  As Parsifal now begins eagerly to question him, he mournfully relates that times have changed indeed.  Amfortas still lives, and suffers untold tortures from his unhealed wound, but Titurel, the aged king, no longer quickened by the sight of the Holy Grail, (which has never again been unveiled since his unhappy visit,) has slowly passed away, and has closed his eyes in a last sleep.  At these sad tidings Parsifal faints with remorse, and Gurnemanz and Kundry restore him with water from the holy spring, with which they also wash away all the soil of travel.  As he comes to life again, inquiring whether he will be allowed to see Amfortas, Gurnemanz tells him that the knights are to assemble once more in the temple, as of old, to celebrate Titurel’s obsequies, and that Amfortas has solemnly promised to unveil the Holy Grail, although at the cost of suffering to himself.  He wishes to comfort the knights, who have lost all their courage and strength, and are no longer called upon to go forth and battle for the right in the name of the Grail.

To enable Parsifal to appear in the temple, Gurnemanz now baptises him with water from the spring, and Kundry, anointing his feet with a costly perfume, wipes them with her hair.  Parsifal rewards her for this humble office by baptising her in his turn.  Then Gurnemanz anoints Parsifal’s head with the same ointment, for it is decreed he shall be king, and after he and Kundry have helped him to don the usual habit of the servants of the Holy Grail they proceed, as in the first act, to the temple, and once more enter the great hall.

As they appear, the doors open, and two processions enter, chanting a mournful refrain.  Ten knights bear the bier containing Titurel’s corpse, the others carry the wasted form of the wounded king.  The chorus ended, the coffin is opened, and at the sight of the dead Titurel all the assistants cry out in distress.  No wail is so bitter, however, as that of Amfortas, who mournfully addresses his dead father, imploring him to intercede for him before the heavenly throne, and to obtain for him the long hoped for and long expected release.

Then he bids the knights uncover the Holy Grail; but ere they can do so he bursts out into a paroxysm of grief, exposing his bleeding and throbbing wound, and declaring he has not the courage to endure the sacred beam of light from the Holy Grail.  But, unnoticed by all, Parsifal, Gurnemanz, and Kundry have drawn near.  Suddenly the youth extends the sacred spear, and, touching Amfortas with its point, declares that its power alone can stanch the blood and heal the wounded side, and pronounces the absolution of his sin:—­

   ’Be whole, unsullied and absolved,
    For I now govern in thy place. 
    Oh blessed be thy sorrows,
    For Pity’s potent might
    And Knowledge’s purest power
    They taught a timid Fool.’