Saints celebrated on the 30th of May
SAINT JOAN OF ARC, VIRGIN
Jeanne d’Arc, a peasant girl, born at Domremy in Lorraine in 1411 was distinguished from childhood for her virtues and singular piety. While watching her flock of sheep she ever sought union with God; and was by Him raised to those high degrees of prayer which seem reserved to but few even of His Saints. In Joan’s time, France was torn by Civil War, and in great part subject to the English King, Henry VI.
VISIONS
In repeated visions of Angels it was shown to Joan that she was to be instrumental in freeing and pacifying her Fatherland.
ST JOAN WAS BETRAYED
She was directed herself to take up arms in its defence, and to lead the French soldiers to victory. The compelling the English Generals to raise the siege of Orleans, and the conducting Charles VII of France in triumph to his Coronation at Reims, were her chief achievements. But - as she herself had predicted - Joan was to be betrayed and to die in the accomplishment of her work. Taken prisoner, she found herself at the mercy of the English and Burgundians.
SHE WAS UNJUSTLY CONDEMNED
The Bishop of Beauvais presided over the Court which condemned her to death, mainly on the pretext that she had donned man’s attire and had fought in defence of her country. Every other charge brought against her utterly broke down. She was unjustly condemned to death and burned at the stake at Rouen, May 30, 1431. Her last words were the Name of Jesus thrice repeated.
SHE WAS CANONISED
Within a very few years the Ecclesiastical Courts annulled the judgment of the Bishop of Beauvais; and the more the history of the Holy Maid has since been looked into, the more clearly has the genuineness of her Divinely inspired mission been shown. After the lapse of nearly five centuries, the Catholic Church has formally canonised the Maid of Orleans.
Information from The Book of Saints, 1921, by the Monks of Ramsgate
NOVENA PRAYER TO ST JOAN OF ARC:
Glorious St Joan of Arc,
filled with compassion for those
who invoke you,
with love for those who suffer,
heavily laden with the weight of my
troubles, I kneel at your feet and
humbly beg you to take my present
need under your special protection
(mention your petition).
Vouchsafe to recommend it
to the Blessed Virgin Mary,
and lay it before the throne of Jesus.
Cease not to intercede for me
until my request is granted.
Above all, obtain for me the grace to one
day meet God face to face and with you
and Mary and all the Angels and Saints
praise Him through all eternity.
O most powerful Saint Joan, do not let me
lose my soul, but obtain for me the grace
of winning my ways to heaven,
forever and ever.
Amen.
➡️ Did St Joan of Arc really sign her own death warrant?
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