The Irish standard., 1894-03-03
MAID OF ORLEANS.
The French Heroine, Joan of Arc,
Who Has Been Recently Beati-
fed by the Church.
WHAT BEATIFICATION MEANS,
Three Degrees Of Sanctity, That of
Venerable, That Of Blessed
i and That Of Saint.

Venerable, That Of Blessed
and That Of Saint.
Joan of Arc was e peasant child, born
in hamlet in Lorraine, about 14l1. In
her childhood she became imbued with
an enthusiasm partly religious, partly
patriotic. Twofactions ragged in France.
One, the Burgundians, had sworn ale
glance to Henry V. of England; the
other, the Orleaniste, supported the pre-
tensions of Charles VII: of France. Joan,
as early as her 18th year, used to declare
that there were voices calling upon her
to drive out the English, suppress their
allies and restore France to her own peo-
pie and king. Her parents, naturally in
credulous, did what they could to curb
what seemed a mere illusion; but Joan
never relinquished her faith in the voices.
At 18 years of age she succeeded in
getting hearing from officers of Charles,
who, after treating her with disdain, con-
descended at last to listen to her words.
February, 1914, she set out for the court
where the king, depressed by repeated
misfortune, was staying. Orleans was
the only rlace of Importance that he re
tai1ed, and that was under siege. Joan
told him that her mission was from God
to raise the siege and conduct him to
Rheims to be crowned. Convinced of
her earnestness, Charles, despite the
scorn and opposition OF courtiers, raised
the young girl to the rank Of a military
commander. At the head of consider
able body Of military troops, each Of
whom had to confess and receive COM
munion before going into battle, she en-
tered Orleans the last day OF April Of the
same year and in week the siege was
raised. She led that and subsequent
battles in person, displaying wonderful
bravery, but weeping when the struggle
was over for the wounded of both sides,
and making no discrimination in the
succor provided for them. In three
months Charles was crowned at Rheims
King of France. The power of the EGG
lish was for the time completely broken
But for the valor and inspiration of the
young peasant girl, who had learned
nothing in books and knew no military
science, it is among the posi- bilities that
the dominion of England would have
been finally established in France.
After the coronation Joan petitioned
the king to be permitted to return to her
home in Lorraine. Ambition of the king,
not gratitude to the maid, animated his
refusal. Reluctantly, but submlssively,
she remained at the head OF the army,
and soon found her destiny approaching
it's tragic end. Captured by the remnant
of the Burgundian allies of the English,
she was sold by them to her enemies
Trial for sorcery followed, and learned
men from the University of Paris found
her guilty, as, at later day, Sir Matthew
Hale condemned women in England as
witches. She went to the stake at Rouen,
May 81, 1431, as heroically as she had
led the army into Orleans, and even the
brutal fanatics that ordered her death
were appalled, by the sanctity with which
she died, her last CALCULATIONS being
words of humble faith.
What does Justification of Joan of Arc
mean? is asked everywhere. The pontiff
has issued q decree announcing beati6ca-
tion of the Maid of Orleans; but as
Qualifications are rare events the precise
significance Of the announcement is not
widely understood.
The act of the Pope is in consequence
Of submission to him Of 8 report by the
congregation of rites declaring in favor
of beatification, after investigation ex-
tending over more than century, exam
ination of more than 600 documents and
exhaustive study Of the parentage, child
hood, character, associations and final
career OF the maid. What is the congre-
CATION of rites that It should assume to
declare persons long deceased more
blessed than others?
Ecclesiastical administration at Rome
is divided up among what We would call
standing committees, each congregation
being standing committee on distinctly
assigned subjects. The congregation Of
rites was instituted IN the sixteenth cen-
tury to prevent abuses or innovations re-
garding devotion to saints, the correct
use Of images and relics, proper observ-
ance Of the ritual and uniformity in the
externals Of worship. When it is dealing
with proposed Justification or canoniza-
tion it Is assisted By . promoter fdei-a
promoter Of true faith more commonly
known as the Devil Advocate'' whose
duty II i % Iriieorousl examine every