“One
life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice
what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than
dying.”
The YouTube channel
called “The Catholic Servant” does a beautiful work in putting together the
life and mission of St. Joan of Arc. This video clip was basically made so that
many would come to know about the courageous and uplifting life of the saint.
St. Joan of Arc, known as the Maid of Orleans and the patroness of
France, was born in Domremý, in the region of Lorraine
(France) in January 6, 1412 to
a peasant family. Joan’s mother instilled in her from the time she was a child a great confidence
and devotion to the Catholic Church. For this reason, every Saturday Joan gathered beautiful flowers
from the countryside to take them to Our Lady's altar.
At the age of thirteen
Joan of Arc confessed to having seen Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint
Margaret, and declared that their voices urged her to lead a devout and pious
life. St. Joan was especially devoted to these two female saints, virgin
martyrs venerated by the universal Church. To them she vowed to remain a virgin
all her life. [1]
Four years later, she felt called by God to carry out a mission that seemed
impossible: to instruct Charles VII that she would make possible his
coronation. In May 1429, she led a small army into battle at Orleans and was
victorious. She was wounded, but moved on to Rheims and was also victorious.
There Charles VII was officially crowned king the 17th of July of
1429.
“Since
God had commanded it, it was necessary that I do it. Since God commanded it,
even if I had a hundred fathers and mothers, even if I had been a King's daughter,
I would have gone nevertheless.”
In 1431 St. Joan was captured; Charles did not
attempt to ransom her. Thus, the Bishop of Beauvais, Pierre Cauchon, put her on
trial for heresy. He was known to be under the control of the English rulers of
the Burgundy region. She was convicted of heresy because she was not allowed a
defense. Before beginning her military campaigns Charles VII had had her
questioned by doctors and bishops,
none of whom had found any sign of illness or heresy. One priest gave her
a crucifix to kiss. She was bound to the stake, and the faggots around the
stake were lit. In a few moments it was all over. As she succumbed, she shrieked,
“Jesus, Jesus, Jesus!”[2] She was burned on May 30,
1431. The sentence was lifted by Pope Callistus 25 years later. She was
beatified in 1909 and canonized in 1920 and declared patroness of France. After
the French victories led by St. Joan, the French forces rallied and won Paris
in 1436 and then went on to regain the rest of the English posts.
Sources:
Video clip “The Life of Saint Joan of Arc” —Feast day:
May 30 Patron of soldiers and France https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PkkObdifFQs
To read more quotes from St. Joan of Arc visit http://www.azquotes.com/author/501-Joan_of_Arc
[1] Engelhardt,
Herbert. "Joan of Arc." Priest, vol. 71, no. 8, Aug. 2015, pp. 46-48.
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[2] Engelhardt,
Herbert. "Joan of Arc." Priest, vol. 71, no. 8, Aug. 2015, pp. 46-48.
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