How were the saints inspired by other saints? Unbreakable chronicles the lives of some of the greatest saints, revealing how they were assisted and inspired by their saintly brothers and sisters in Heaven. Read on to experience the call of Saint Joan of Arc!
Who Was Joan of Arc?
Joan of Arc is one of history’s most fascinating figures. Since the fifteenth century, she has captivated the imagination of people worldwide as each new generation has added to the enormous collection of books, poems, paintings, documentaries, and other works telling her story.
Historical records provide an abundance of primary source material. Through transcripts of her two trials and accompanying documents, more evidentiary details are known about her life than that of any person who lived up to her time.
Joan was an illiterate teenaged farm girl who had no connections to the military or French nobility. And yet, when she was sixteen years old, she left home for the singular purpose of commanding a French army, defeating the English in battle, and leading King Charles VII to Reims for his coronation, thus liberating France from English rule. That she accomplished such an outrageous mission is as remarkable as the fact that she embarked on it at all.
Joan’s Call
Joan was thirteen when she first learned God’s shocking will for her life. It was the summer of 1425, around noon, and she was in her father’s garden. She saw a great light coming from the direction of the village church. A voice seemed to be coming from the light. She was frightened. She heard the voice three times before knowing it was the voice of an angel. This was the first of many angelic communications Joan would have during the next several years.
“This voice has always guarded me well and I have always understood it clearly,” Joan said.
The angel commanded her to conduct herself well and habitually go to church. Two or three times a week, it spoke of a special mission God had chosen for her: she would lead a French army to defeat the English in battle, drive the English out of France, and crown Charles VII as the rightful king.
The mission sounded ridiculous and impossible. Why would God choose a simple farm girl to do the work of an experienced military leader? Joan knew nothing about combat or military strategy. Why would French noblemen entrust her with command of an army? How would she convince soldiers to obey her? How would she know what to do at any point along the way in this absurd-sounding plan?
Confused, Joan objected, explaining to the angel that she did not know how to ride a horse or lead an army in battle. But the heavenly messenger was adamant about God’s plan for her life. And because nothing is impossible for God, she listened.
The angel gave her specific instructions. She was to leave home without telling her father and make her way to Robert de Baudricourt in the fortress of Vaucouleurs. Baudricourt would give her an army to command. She would lead soldiers into the city of Orléans and drive the English out.
What the angel told her was too outlandish to be true. But it was true. And Joan knew it was true. “St. Michael assured me of it before the voices came,” she explained.
Saint Michael’s Influence
Joan’s first encounter with Saint Michael was a frightening experience. She never expected to be visited by a heavenly being, much less the prince of the heavenly hosts. She did not recognize her visitor at first because she could not make sense of what was happening to her. But with each meeting, Saint Michael shared more details about God’s astounding plan for her life. His words revealed his absolute devotion to the Creator. She soon realized that the spiritual being counseling her to help the king of France was the first defender of the kingship of Christ.
Saint Michael, whose will is perfectly united to God’s will, provided advice and inspiration to Joan. Before all else, Saint Michael told her to be a good child and that God would help her. He said that she would receive further guidance from Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret, who would come to her. He instructed her to believe them.
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This article is taken from a chapter in Unbreakable by Kimberly Begg which is available from TAN Books.
