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Saint Joan of Arc

by Tori from Mankato

Joan hearing the voices of the angels.  (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Jeanne_d'_Arc_(Eugene_Thirion).jpg)
Joan hearing the voices of the angels. (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ec/Jeanne_d'_Arc_(Eugene_Thirion).jpg)

Saint Joan of Arc is the patron Saint of soldiers and France. She was born on January 6, 1412 into the peasant class in Domremy, France. At age thirteen, Joan began hearing voices of angels and saints in her father's garden. These voices were of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. At first the messages were general and personal. But by the time she was sixteen, the voices were telling her to save France, which was in a war with England. Joan pleaded, "I am a poor girl; I do not know how to ride or fight," but Saint Michael insisted: "It is God who commands it."

The King of England was after the throne of France and the King of France needed Joan's help, although he didn't know it. In March of 1429, Joan managed to meet with the French king, Charles VII. To meet with him, Charles had to swap his royal robes with a courtier, but she recognized him immediately. The voices she heard also informed her of the king's private doubts about his own legitimacy, and she put those doubts to rest.

Saint Joan of Arc (http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/WS5/JoanofArc/images/St.Joan%20of%20Arc3.gif)
Saint Joan of Arc (http://csis.pace.edu/grendel/WS5/JoanofArc/images/St.Joan%20of%20Arc3.gif)

Charles put her in charge of a small army because he was convinced that her message was divinely inspired. She led her army to Orleans and in one week Joan freed a city that had been under siege for seven months. Many battles followed and she was very successful. Joan drove the English out of France and Charles was able to enter Riems. Charles was crowned king on July 17, 1429 with Joan at his side.

The following March Joan left his court in a dispute over tactics. Two months later, Joan was taken prisoner in Burgundy, sold to the English, and Charles refused to ransom her. The English turned Joan over to French ecclesiastics who put her through a disgraceful nine-month trial. She was tried for witchcraft and heresy. She insisted on wearing male clothing and was told that it was a crime against God for a woman to wear men's clothing. She continued to wear it because her voices hadn't told her to change and to protect herself from the sexual abuse by her jailers. This was seen as defiance and finally sealed her fate.

Saint Joan of Arc being burned at the stake.  (http://www.therussells.net/papers/joan/index.htg/Right_before_Burn.jpg)
Saint Joan of Arc being burned at the stake. (http://www.therussells.net/papers/joan/index.htg/Right_before_Burn.jpg)

Joan was convicted after the nine-month interrogation and on May 30, 1431 she was burned at the stake in the Rouen marketplace. She was only nineteen years old and Charles VII made no attempt to come to her rescue. A second trial was held in 1456 and Joan was pronounced innocent of all the charges against her. In 1909 she was beatified and in 1920 she was canonized by Pope Benedict XV. Saint Joan of Arc's feast day is May 30. Joan's motivation came from the voices she first heard in the garden. She has changed the lives around her by helping Charles and overcoming the King of England.

Page created on 12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM

Last edited 12/3/2008 12:00:00 AM

The beliefs, viewpoints and opinions expressed in this hero submission on the website are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the beliefs, viewpoints and opinions of The MY HERO Project and its staff.

Bibliography

Lovasik, S.V.D., Rev. Lawrence G. . Picture Book of Saint.

Nevins, M.M., Albert J.. A Saint For Your Name.

Gallick, Sarah. The Big Book of Women Saints.