Considered one of the most important figures in French history, Saint Joan of Arc was a young peasant girl who led a small army to save her homeland during the Hundred Years’ War. Born in 1412 in a village in France, Joan had no formal education, but was raised with a love of Catholicism and its teachings by her mother, a pious woman.
Mystical experiences and military triumphs
At the age of 13, Joan began to hear mysterious voices, which she identified as those of the Archangel Saint Michael, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and Saint Margaret of Antioch. They invited her to free France from English rule. Later, when speaking to the future King Charles VII, she revealed knowledge that could only have come from heaven, which qualified her to lead an army.
In 1429, Joan set out on the expedition that culminated in the salvation of the city of Orleans, expelling the English and fulfilling her mission to free France. In addition to her military skills, Joan also influenced the modesty and customs of the army, expelling prostitutes from the camp and implementing participation in Holy Mass and the sacraments by soldiers.
Imprisonment, death and legacy
After her military victories, Joan was imprisoned by the English and subjected to a trial in which she was considered a liar, an exploiter of the people, a blasphemer of God, an idolater, a summoner of devils and a heretic. Sentenced to death, Joan was burned alive, but even in the flames, she invoked the name of Jesus Christ. Chained to a post, her unwavering faith and her heroic actions made her a symbol of courage, purity and faith.
Years after her death, Joan of Arc was beatified by Saint Pius X in 1909 and canonized by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. Her canonization marked the reconciliation between the Church and the French Republic, and she became a figure of unity and heroism in French society.
Legacy and political and religious significance
Joan of Arc became a symbol of heroism and patriotism in France, and was invoked as the patron saint of the trenches by soldiers during the First World War. Her canonization was an important step in the reconciliation between the Church and the French State, and her figure continues to unite political and religious authorities, representing a desire for appeasement and rapprochement between both sides.
Although revered by the far right, Joan of Arc was also invoked as a symbol of the Resistance during the Second World War, which made her popular among important political figures such as General De Gaulle. Her feast day in Orleans began to be celebrated by presidents, showing the attachment of the entire French society to her figure, which goes beyond the religious aspect and makes her a symbol of unity.
