Joan of Arc

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Joan of Arc was made a Saint by the Church. She led the French armies in victory against the British. Picture: Joan of Arc Center, Albuquerque.

Saint Joan was born on January 6, 1412, in the village of Domremy. She was the youngest of their five children. While growing up among the fields and pastures of her village, she was called Jeannette but when she entered into her mission, her name was changed to Jeanne, la Pucelle, or Joan, the Maid.

Her mother taught her to spin and sew as well as her religion. Joan was known to be genous and kind towards her neighbours and friends. When she was thirteen, Joan began to hear her "Voices". These were the saints telling her to be good, go to church often and that God would help her. She stated that her 'Voices' were Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. At first her 'Voices' came to her two or three times a week but as the time for her mission drew near (five years later), they visited her daily telling her to 'Go into France'.

At this time, France and England were at war. Joan's voices told her that she was to help the heir to the King of France, the Dauphin Charles, to win back France from the English invaders. Joan had to argue very hard to be allowed to meet with the Dauphin. People did not believe that God had sent her on a mission. Joan of Arc rides into battle. Many people thought that Joan was a witch because she wore men's clothes and dressed in men's armour to fight.

She successfully led the French armies to victory in battles against the English and Charles was crowned King of France. She was captured by the army of the Duke of Burgundy who handed her over to the English. The English wanted to kill Joan, and also wanted to show people that King Charles had no right to the French throne. So they wanted to prove that Joan was a witch.

Joan was put on trial for witchcraft and tried by judges who were friendly to England. She was found gulty of being a witch and was sentenced to be burnt to death at the stake in Rouen in 1431 at the age of 19. Twenty-five years later the findings of Joan's first trial were overthrown by another Church court, who this time was favorable to King Charles.

It was not until 1920 that the Church declared Joan to be a saint. Her feast day is celebrated on May 30th. This is a statue of St Joan of Arc.   Back to the top of the page.