Featured Saint

Joan of Arc (1412-1431)

Joan of Arc was born in France at the start of the 15th Century and is remembered for her courage, empathy and conviction in restoring the rightful King of France to the throne. Meaning "God is Gracious," her name seems a bit ironic in retrospect, given that she was executed at such a young age.

France in the 1500s was divided into two warring factions - The Burgundians, led by "Philip The Good" and the last of the Valois dynasty, led by Charles of Ponthieu. The Valois dynasty had ruled France since 1328, but Philip believed King Henry V, of England was the rightful heir to the throne in France.

In her childhood, Joan claimed to have visions from Saints and an Archangel. As her life went on, those visions implored her to find the true dauphin (heir) of France and ensure he was crowned King.

She went looking for the heir, but the English were strengthening their grip on France and hope appeared to be dwindling for the dauphin. When she finally came across Charles' town of Orleans, the English were laying siege to the city.

After speaking with Charles, aides reported his mood had improved and his spirit rekindled. She had told him what she believed his destiny was and of the visions she had experienced.

Even when hope was all but lost, she rallied the soldiers loyal to Charles' cause, weeded out corruption in their ranks and mobilized many deserters into action. Those who had all but given up thought twice before leaving a Saint in battle.

Eventually the English forts around Orleans were captured by Joan's forces and Charles began to think that maybe there was a future for him after all. All throughout her life she helped the wrongly imprisoned, the destitute and rape victims. Charles became king on July 17, 1429, but she found little success in most of the battles that followed.

One of her predictions was fulfilled when she was captured by the Duke of Burgundy's forces and handed over to England for 10,000 francs. Even though rules stated that nuns should keep guard over women prisoners, the English would not allow it.

During her trial, she was accused of witchcraft, heresy and cross-dressing. After months of protesting her innocence, she had no other option and signed a document confirming her guilt, in the hope that the sentence of execution would be commuted to life imprisonment. The English turned her over to the authorities to be burned. Many believed the trial was conducted as a revenge for her allegiance to Charles VII. The English feared that she weilded too much power over the people - that her charisma was infectious.

She was executed on 30th May, 1431, even though many feared damnation for executing a Saint. Before her death she forgave her convictors in an amazing show of character, sobbing repeatedly. It was only in 1456 that she was acquitted of the charges during a retrial. Justice too late is no justice at all.
 

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