Mommy Life: Joan of Arc: 600th birthday, born January 12, 1412

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January 6, 2012 4:07 PM

Joan of Arc: 600th birthday, born January 12, 1412

Six hundred years ago today, my patron saint was born. When I was confirmed in the Catholic Church in 2009 and had the privilege of taking a patron saint, for me it was a no-brainer. For 12 years, a bronze statue of Joan of Arc has presided over my writing, and I have collected books about her life.

There are many things I admire about her - especially her obedience to God, her humility and her courage.

"In God's name! Let us go on bravely!" - Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc

"If I were to say that God sent me, I shall be condemned, but God really did send me."
She has been called a saint, a heretic, and "a diamond among pebbles." But who was this illiterate French peasant girl, who in 15 months changed the history of western Europe and became, according to one historian, "the most widely known of all medieval women"?
Her voices
Joan's father was the most prosperous farmer in the small French village of Domremy. She spun wool and gathered the harvest, a typical life interrupted only by occasional encounters with soldiers from the Hundred Years' War (1337-1453), the lingering conflict between France and England. Once English soldiers burned the village church; two other times Joan herded the livestock to safety from their marauding invasions.
One summer when Joan was about 13, she was working in her father's garden at noon. Suddenly she saw a bright light and heard a voice. The voice called her "Joan the Maid" and told her to live a virtuous life. Voices came more often and gave instructions: Joan was to save France and help the dauphin (France's rightful heir) be crowned. Joan questioned how she could possibly accomplish these astounding feats. The voices said God would be with her.

Joan later identified the voices as belonging to the archangel Michael and the saints Margaret of Antioch and Catherine of Alexandria. At any rate, Joan's voices impelled her to attempt unthinkable tasks; she would rather die than deny them.

With her cousin's help, Joan gained access to Robert de Baudricourt, the local lord. He flatly ordered, "Give her a good slapping and take her back to her father."

Joan would not relent, and nearly nine months later, she convinced her hearers that she was divinely chosen to help France. With knights at her side, she rode over 300 miles--across enemy territory, at night--to tell the dauphin, Charles, of her plans.

Charles was unsure whether to receive her, so when Joan entered the 70-foot-long hall, filled with dozens of courtiers, the dauphin was not on his throne. Instead, dressed like the others, he mingled with the crowd. Somehow, Joan walked directly to him.

"But I am not the dauphin," he protested when she addressed him.

"In God's name, gentle sire, you are," Joan responded.

Charles turned her over to churchmen from the University of Poitiers. Weeks of doubt and indecision followed while she was questioned, but finally her examiners found "only humility, purity, honesty, and simplicity." Soon she was helping 4,000 troops to relieve the besieged city of Orleans.

Though not the commander of the troops, she led troops in taking a number of forts that surrounded Orleans. During the battle for the fort of Les Tourelles, Joan was wounded (an arrow through the shoulder) but quickly returned to the fight, and her fortitude inspired many French commanders to maintain the attack until the English capitulated. The next day the English were seen retreating, but, because it was a Sunday, Joan refused to allow any pursuit. It didn't matter; Orleans was back in French hands.
Read more at Christianity Today