“Deus vult” means “God wills it” in Latin and was a popular battle cry during the First Crusade. It is still used by some Christian sects today. The phrase can be seen on the coat of arms of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre. While it is associated with the violence of the Crusades, it can also be viewed as a way to mark the wonder of God’s works and will. Many religions have similar phrases to comment on life events or to motivate people.
The term Deus vult is Latin for “God wills it”. It was a very popular battle cry at the time of the First Crusade in the 11th century, and some members of some Christian sects continue to use it, albeit with slightly less aggressive connotations. While most people do not speak or study Latin in the modern era, the term is part of a library of Latin phrases that have survived due to their religious associations.
According to historians who have written of the First Crusade, when Pope Urban II announced that European Christians would come to the defense of Christians in the East, members of the crowd spontaneously began shouting “Deus vult,” suggesting that God had intended the crusade. Since many people spoke Vulgar Latin, rather than Classical Latin, the crowds were far more likely to shout “Deus lo vult,” in reality, although some learned priests may have stuck to the Classical Latin form.
People can see this phrase written as “Deus lo vult,” especially on the coat of arms of the Order of the Holy Sepulchre, a Catholic order of chivalry that dates back to the time of the First Crusade. The early members of the Order undoubtedly went into battle with the cries of the saying ringing in their ears, as has been clearly documented by historians writing about the First Crusade, so one can see why it had appeal as a motto.
While the term is closely related to the violence of the Crusades for some people, it could also be viewed in a different way. In the 1996 science fiction novel The Sparrow, many of the Jesuit characters often exclaim “Deus vult” in response to something wonderful or amazing, using the term to mark the wonder of God’s works and will. The characters in the novel also say it to explain the unexplainable, using it to mean “God likes it that way.”
Many religions have some similar phrase in their vocabulary, using the term to comment on life events or to motivate people. At times, God’s will can feel contradictory or frustrating, so remembering that God’s works have a purpose, even if it’s not clear, can be very comforting for some people.
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