St. Joan

"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." - Joan of Arc

Yesterday was the feast day of Joan of Arc. Always fascinating, often controversial...she cannot be denied as a force in the 15th century.

She was born to a poor family in a region of France that had suffered terribly in the conflict between England and France. During this time, France was without a real leader. When Joan of Arc came to the court she overwhelmed Charles (de Ponthieu) with her passion and conviction. At 17, she was given control over an army and allowed to lead them into battle. Within a year Joan of Arc had led the French army to victories at Orleans, Patay and Troyes. Many other towns were also liberated from English control and it allowed a triumphal entry into Dauphin for the coronation of King Charles VII on 17 July 1429.

A year later she was captured and subsequently sold to the British. The English and members of the French clergy decided to put her on trial for witchcraft. In many ways it was a show trial with the result cleverly orchestrated. There are two versions of the story...one was that Pierre Cauchon (a leading clergy member) was a staunch supporter of the British and hated Joan of Arc for her miraculous revival of French national pride. The other is that he genuinely felt obliged to save Joan's Immortal soul from damnation for the claims she was making.

In the beginning, the trial was held in public but, were eventually conducted behind closed doors as her responses were much sharper than her prosecutors expected which gained her much public sympathy. She did, in fact, hold her own and produced some strong rebuts.

There were threats of torture (there is no evidence this was actually carried out) and, as would be expected, Joan was found guilty and condemned to death by burning at the stake. Faced with such an overwhelming ordeal Joan broke down and confessed.

However, a week later, she regained her strength and recanted her confession. She was able to face her ordeal with dignity. It is said that over 10,000 people came to see her execution by burning. Her ashes were scattered in the Seine. In later years she was found to be innocent and was designated a martyr...she was canonized a saint in 1920...

As always, you can find information about the saints at MethodX