Saint Jeanne d'Arc
Oh Joan through deep devotion, faith and love
God whispered word to you from up above
And through the trees the light shone bright as flames
The voices left as silent as they came
.
Through every summer breeze and dawning day
The words would soon return then fade away
And as the bright sky darkened with the dusk
God spoke for you Oh Joan, fight for us.
.
How many sleepless nights spent wide awake,
You pacing, praying, pleading for His sake
And Joan though fear bequeathed your beating heart
You cut your hair and faithfully did your part.
.
Through pain of war and doubt, through darkest time
You ate but just communion bread and wine
Though arrows flew and doom did strike you down
Stood by the bridge you wept for those to drown
.
Through battle blood and mocking throng
Your soul strived on, stayed strong for everyone
As night did fall and war’d been bravely fought
You travelled on, alone, but soon we’re caught.
.
Though you fell, your standard still flew high
Your truth stood firm defying all their lies
At your stone cold bed you silent wept
Embraced by Angels while you trembling slept.
.
And at the stake you stood at peace and rest
Held to your heart a cross of wood you kissed
And as last light shone red through ash and dust
You laid your life through love and dared to trust.
at Domrémy in north-east France.
and the heir to the French crown was in contention.
by a virgin from the "borders of Lorraine" "who would work miracles".
strolling under the shade of trees in her garden.
the escort of a local garrison commander Robert de Baudricourt made her way to the
uncrowned Dauphin to offer her counsel and support.
the outcome of several battles and her accuracy brought her to the attention of the royal court.
As a test an equerry was brought to her pretending to be the true King. But she knew
that it was not him. Drawn by curiosity, the real king was keen to take a furtive look
in the room. But as soon as Jeanne saw him, she immediately recognised him even though
they had never met before.
raised in his court . When she had finished her salutations, she addressed the king .
“ May God give you long life, noble Dauphin .” The king replied “ I am not the King, Jeanne .
” And pointing to one of his lords, he said “ There is the King .” To which she replied
“In God’s Name, noble prince, it is you and no other . From this point on, he was
convinced that her mission was divinely appointed.
preferring her banner "forty times better than a sword." But her presence and council
seemed to contribute to the sudden rise in Frances victories over the English.
The most notable of these was the siege of Orléans a strategically significant city.
was commended by all.
by an arrow between the neck and shoulder while holding her banner in the trench outside
les Tourelles, but later returned to encourage a final assault that succeeded in taking the fortress.
The English retreated from Orléans the next day, and the siege was over.
The lifting of the siege was interpreted by many people to be that sign.
English and Burgundian siege. On 23 May 1430 she was ambushed and captured.
attempts, on one occasion jumping from her 70-foot tower.
Although she was illiterate she outwitted her prosecutors.
and if I am, may God so keep me.' The question is a scholarly trap. Church doctrine held
that no one could be certain of being in God's grace. If she had answered yes, then she would
have been charged with heresy. If she had answered no, then she would have confessed her own guilt.
The court notary later testified that at the moment the court heard her reply,
"Those who were interrogating her were stupefied."
and Fr Isambart de la Pierre, to hold a crucifix before her. An English soldier also
constructed a small cross that she put in the front of her dress.
eyes until I am dead. I would have the cross on which God hung ever before my eyes
while life lasts in me."
But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying."
a tempered blade, that cut through the pretence of men, the pride of armies and the
greed of leaders with the sharp, unwavering sword of innocence and truth.
courageous, true. She shone a light, which cast a shadow, exposing the hypocrisy of both
church and crown. For that she was more dangerous to either than any foreign army.
She wasn’t unfeeling, steely and battle-worn, she was a tender girl with a heart claimed
fully by love of her God. She experienced a full spectrum of emotions; fear, despair,
loneliness and deathly sorrow. She was human. But she was also beatified.
refines as well as consumes. She chose a life of meaning despite the cost.
was become a lost virtue; she was a keeper of promises when the keeping of a promise was
expected of no one; ... she was full of pity when a merciless cruelty was the rule; she was
steadfast when stability was unknown, and honorable in an age which had forgotten what
honor was; she was a rock of convictions in a time when men believed in nothing and
scoffed at all things; she was unfailingly true in an age that was false to the core; ...
she was of a dauntless courage when hope and courage had perished in the hearts of her nation..."
- Mark Twain
captures the essence of the story with engaging text and enchanting illustrations.
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