Vote for Joan as your Favorite Saint!

If you are looking for a more Christian based alternative to the annual NCAA basketball tournament known as “March Madness” you will be happy to learn that an Episcopal minister has created a tournament featuring 32 saints that is called “Lent Madness.” This tournament is all for fun, of course, but the creator Reverend Chris Schenck hopes his tournament will provide an engaging way for people to learn more about the true heroes of the Christian faith while they vote for their favorite saint. I think it is a great idea and was pleased to see that St. Joan of Arc is included in this year’s tournament. Joan has already won in her first round match-up against Lancelot Andrewes and has advanced to the “Saintly Sixteen” round where she goes up against Mary Magdalene today. To vote for Joan just visit LentMadness.org

Vive la St. Joan!

Joan of Arc Arrives in Chinon and Meets Charles

"Very illustrious Lord Dauphin, I am come, being sent on the part of God, to give succour to the kingdom and to you."

The first meeting between Joan and Charles VII is one of the legendary events in the life of Joan of Arc. According to the history Joan was able to recognize Charles and located him in a crowd even though she had never before met him or had any idea what he looked like. This first meeting took place at the castle in Chinon on or around March 7th of 1429 and an eyewitness, Simon Charles an emissary of the court, described it as follows:

"Informed that she was coming, the King retired behind some others. Nevertheless, Joan recognized him very well and made him reverence. She conversed long with him. And after hearing her, the King appeared joyful."

To learn more about this historic event please visit MaidOfHeaven.com at:
Joan of Arc & Charles VII: First Meeting

Joan Begins Her Mission!

"I am not afraid, for God is with me, I was born for this!"

On February 23, 1429, Joan of Arc finally received the blessing of Sir Robert de Baudricourt and departed Vaucouleurs to begin her mission. Joan had to make three attempts requesting help from de Baudricourt before he finally relented and agreed to send her to Charles VII in Chinon. It was during the evening of the 23rd that Joan assembled her small party of six that included her two knights, Jean de Metz and Bertrand de Poulengy, their two servants and two of the King’s messengers. The journey they were embarking upon was long and hazardous and required them to travel at night. Just before Joan departed Vaucouleurs a women of the town asked Joan: “How can you make such a journey when on all sides are enemy soldiers?” to which Joan famously responded: “I do not fear the soldiers, for my road is made open to me; and if the soldiers come, I have God , my Lord, who will know how to clear the route that leads to messire the Dauphin. It was for this that I was born!”

Joan Pilgrimage in 2012

If you are looking for a unique way to celebrate Joan of Arc’s 600th Birthday in 2012 then you might consider going on a pilgrimage to France to walk where Saint Joan of Arc once walked. I have been friends with Chris and Catherine Snidow of PilgrimWitnesses.com for several years and have always been impressed with how committed they are to presenting Joan’s true history and who she really was. Over the years they have sent me many pictures from their pilgrimages of statues and other images of Joan which I have gratefully used at MaidOfHeaven.com to better teach Joan’s true history. I can tell from viewing these pictures that the Snidow’s pilgrimages are very well planned and usually visit some of Joan’s most famous locations. This year’s pilgrimage seems especially enticing with visits to Orleans, Rouen and Domremy which were probably the three most significant cities in Joan’s life. The Snidow’s description of this year’s pilgrimage given below illustrates their commitment to providing the ultimate experience for people wanting to learn the real story of Joan of Arc.

“God willing, in June 2012, we will lead our sixth pilgrimage to France (our fifth with the spirituality and footsteps of Joan foremost in our plans). 2012 marks Joan's 600th birthday anniversary, and this will be celebrated in various ways throughout France. As before, the philosophy we are aiming for on this trip is one of going back to the essentials, of simplicity, of quality time in some places instead of 'rush-rush' in many. We will indeed see much, but we want to experience the places we visit more as spiritual travelers than as consumers. Indeed, our goal is to first see things through the eyes of believers, and then from other perspectives; such as historical, architectural, sociological, as tourists, etc. Consequently, the maximum number of people we'll take will be 16. More than that would begin to impact the basic philosophy we wish to follow.”

For more information click on the picture below from their 2009 pilgrimage:

Noble Joan!

Sometime during the winter of 1429-1430 Charles VII elevated Joan of Arc and her entire family to nobility. In the official document that Charles executed he referred to Joan as “dear and beloved” and explained that her whole family was ennobled “that the memory of the divine glory and of so many favors may endure and increase forever.” Joan was given the family name of du Lys with armorial bearings(coat-of-arms) as Charles had created for her previously in June of 1429 of a sword supporting a crown with a fleur-de-lis on each side.

While Joan later stated at her trial that she had never personally used the armorial bearings and that the King had given them to her brothers the elevation to nobility was a huge honor for Joan and her family and one that she well deserved.

Vive la Joan of Arc!

2012 The Year of Joan of Arc!

The recent 600th anniversary of Joan’s birth produced a huge amount of news coverage all around the world and many people are now referring to 2012 as "The Year of Joan of Arc.” Lest anyone need a reminder as to why Joan of Arc is so special and deserving of honor throughout this year I thought I would re-print a few of the many words written in praise of Joan over the years by some of the world’s greatest writers and leaders:

"Whatever thing men call great, look for it in Joan of Arc, and there you will find it."
Mark Twain-19th Century American Writer

"Joan was a being so uplifted from the ordinary run of mankind that she finds no equal in a thousand years."
Winston Churchill-Legendary British Prime Minister in WWII

"She was the consummation and ideal of two noble human efforts towards perfection. The peasant's daughter was the Flower of Chivalry, brave, gentle, merciful, courteous, kind, and loyal....She was the most perfect daughter of her Church....her conscience, by frequent confession, was kept fair and pure as the lilies of Paradise."
Andrew Lang-19th Century Scottish Writer and Historian

"...next to the Christ, the highest spiritual being of whom we have any exact record upon this earth is the girl Jeanne"
Sir Arthur Conan Doyle-Famous Scottish author of Sherlock Holmes Fame.

"Jeanne d'Arc does not belong to France alone but also to all those whose thoughts are elevated enough to grasp the superior and beautiful among goodness."
Louis-Maurice Boutet de Monvel-19th Century French Painter

CELEBRATE Joan of Arc’s 600th Birthday!

LIGHT A CANDLE FOR SAINT JOAN ON HER BIRTHDAY!
“She is easily the most extraordinary person
the human race has ever produced.”

January 6, 2012 marks the 600th anniversary of St. Joan of Arc’s birth and there are few people in all of history as deserving of honor and remembrance on their birthday. As Mark Twain very accurately said of Joan: “She is easily the most extraordinary person the human race has ever produced.” For this reason all of 2012 is being called the year of Joan with many celebrations taking place worldwide throughout the year starting with parades held in Paris and in New Orleans on January 6 to celebrate on the day of her birth.

You don’t need to attend a large event to celebrate, however, as we can all take a moment on Joan’s birthday this Friday to remember her and honor her. I encourage everyone to light a candle for Joan on her birthday. I have been celebrating this way for several years and there is something almost mystical about lighting a candle and taking a few quiet moments to remember Joan and to reflect upon her life and all that she has come to mean to so many people.

If you need a little help preparing to celebrate Joan’s 600th Birthday then please visit the special page at MaidOfHeaven.com devoted to Joan’s birthday. This page contains many actual quotes from people who knew Joan and her family when she was growing up:
Joan of Arc's Birthday Page

And if you have not done so already you should definitely read the paper I wrote this year to celebrate Joan’s 600th Birthday anniversary that explains the significance of Joan’s birth on the Epiphany titled:
Saint Joan of Arc: A Brilliantly Shining Light of God

Happy Birthday Saint Joan of Arc!