St. Joan of Arc

FEAST DAY: St. Joan of Arc, May 30

St Joan of Arc or Jeanne d'Arc is one of the saints with a colorful life that it had been made into films.

Joan was born at Domrémy in Champagne, France in 1412. It was a time of great rivalry between France and England. Christianity was likewise in shambles with two popes, one in Rome and the other in Avignon to be resolved in 1417. This episode in the papacy divided Christendom and weakened the Church. There was much corruption, too, among the kings, princes, and even clerics. The Wycliffe heresy was likewise gaining grounds.

Paradoxically, our saint, Joan died as a heretic burnt at the stakes. It wasn't a simple matter as the political rivalry between England and France played a role in the inquisition. It took years for the judgment to be reversed by a papal bull.

St. Joan was very religious at a young age and early on had mystical experiences which she calls "voices" or "counsels". It was an intimation at the age of 16 that led her to approach the king of France to battle the English army's siege. A young girl of peasantry family was ignored and dismissed by the rogue army but it was knowing the king's secret which was impossible for her to know that made the king listened and acquiesced.

St. Joan joined the military campaign at age 17 that led to the victory at Orléans in 1429. In spite of being the only girl in the group of men, Joan was respected and she guarded her purity. Unfortunately, succeeding military encounter led to her being wounded and becoming captive to the enemy. The celebrated "maid of New Orleans" became the object of the political rivalry. She was sold to the English who were still bitter over the defeat in Orléans. They wanted her dead and delivered her to the Inquisitorial Court of Paris loyal to the English monarchy.

On May 30, 1431, Joan was handed over to the civil authorities for the penalty of death at Rouen. She was only 19 years old. The 28-year old King Charles VII of France did not exert much effort to exonerate her. St. Joan faced death with courage and maintained that the "voice" did not deceive her.

It was 25 years after her death through the effort of her family and later on Charles VII that her name was redeemed through the bull of annulment of the judgment of 1431.

There is much to learn in the life of St. Joan of Arc. The division within the Church due to two claimants to the papacy weakens Christendom and the Church's moral authority. Politics, too, will always mingle with religion, and it is up to each individual how to handle it without compromising the truth.

Know more of St. Joan of Arc at New Advent Catholic Encyclopedia.