St.
Joan of Arc, a saint that has captured the admiration of many people,
including Mark Twain and St. Theresa the Little Flower.St. Joan of Arc
(1412-1431 A.D.) was a woman solider who led the French army during The
Hundred Years' War. She was said to have heard the voices of St. Michael, St.
Catherine, and St. Margaret, who told her that God wanted her to defend
France and ensure the rightful heir to the throne was crowned. Who would be
crowned was still in dispute. The main conflict was between the dauphin
Charles (son and heir of the king) and the English king, Henry VI. Henry’s
armies were in alliance with those of Philip, duke of Burgundy.St. Joan was
told by God that His will was for Charles to be crowned. It looked like a
nearly impossible occurrence, but Joan obeyed God's command and sought out
Charles. Through a series of remarkable events, Charles agreed to allow Joan
to travel with his army. She predicted what would happen in each battle and
gained the trust of the leaders of the troops.St. Joan had to get the
dauphin, Charles, to Reims in order to have him crowned, but this territory
was held by his enemy. She fought her way to Orleans, and eventually Charles
was crowned in Reims. The battles continued, and finally a truce was reached.
Joan was captured when the truce was broken. After failed rescue attempts,
she was sold to the English. The English put Joan on trial. She had to fight
off sexual assaults while kept in prison during the trial, and this was why
she dressed in men's clothing. During her trial, Joan was able to withstand traps set to label her as a heretic: “when Joan was asked if she knew she 'was in God's grace,' she answered: 'If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.'"Joan was soon condemned to death and burned at a pillar on May 30, 1431. She was nineteen. Today St. Joan of Arc is the patron saint of soldiers. |