JEANNE D’ARK
By Rev. Betty Tatalajski
It was inspiring to be in Rouen, Reims and Orleans significant places in the short life of my heroine Joan of Ark (Jeanne D’Ark). Joan is another young girl who had visions and visits with spirit; she was not only renounced by the Catholic Church but killed by it.
At age 14 Joan began hearing voices and seeing visions of Archangel Michael, Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret. They urged her to take up the banner of France and lead her country to freedom from English rule and to place the Dauphin (male heir to the French throne) on the throne.
Encouraged by her uncle she did just that. At age 17 she cut her hair, put on boy’s clothes, got a horse and, with Divine Intervention, got an audience with the Dauphin. She convinced him of her sanity, sincerity and connection with Archangel Michael then commenced to accomplish the deed.
In a little wax museum in Rouen is a life size diorama depicting Joan’s short life and her incredible feats accomplished through faith. And finally her reward of being burned at the stake at age 19.
Five hundred years later Joan was canonized by the church and in 1920 was hailed as a saint and the savour of France. Her feast day is May 30th. |
