The Irish standard., 1903-12-12
JOAN OF ARC.

Yesterday the Congregation of
Rites in the presence of the Pope
gave it's decision on the moral hero
ism of Joan of Arc: this is the last
stage but one in the process of beati-
fiction. There remains before she can
be crowned, the proof of the miracles
performed. so that the Qualification
cannot be pronounced until some
months have elapsed. l should not
dream of lifting corner of the veil
that concealS the clnonical drama. but
to relate to mankind.' which is proper
ly curious. what probably belongs to
the public domain will seem neither
indicate nor presumptuous. 1t was
Mgr. DupanlOupe who, at Il critical
moment, made the bold proposal to
the Holy See. The people of France,
who first acclaimed the Maid of Or
| leans mission, had also placed on her
head the mystic halo. 1t raised affairs
to her. established festivals to glorify
her maganimity and to eXalt her.
Such IL general instinct precedes in the
Church the liturgical coditication.
Does not everything in Joan of Arc
show her moral pre-eminence, that in
fallible mark of saintship; the Maids
gentleness, her generalship without a
mistake, her heroic valor, her keen
and subtle diplomacy, her mildness
joined to force, and her humble atti-
tude when giving imperative COM
mands? The peasant girl of DOM
remy wore this marvellous crown with
the quiet ease that makes her a UNIQUE
being. the splender of whose life
startles us. The historian finds in her,
in an incompatible degree, the merits
OF both sexes. She did and acted be-
fore she knew. or rather she knew
without having learned. In every
thing she still looked to that to which
none else looked. 1t was impossible
to combine in the same person more
grace, more reason, more virtue; her
life was permanent miracle; she
was outside the limits of humanity.
"From time to time" says La Bru-
gere. there appear OH the surface of
the earth rare. exquisite men. who
shine by their virtues and whose emil
nent qualities shed a prodigious light.
Like those extraordinary neteors
whose cause is unknown, and of
whose fate after they have disappear
ed we know even less, they have neith-
er ancestors nor descendants; they
themselves comprise their whole
race" From what IL height the maid
looks down OH these souls will be
shown by the documents in the case
Rome. it must be admitted, received
the advocate of Joan of Arc with the
silent dread that cautious old men feel
when they see Il bold gesture. Mgr.
Dupanloup. with his entelprising man.
her. disturbed their caution. What Il
perspective of troubles and worries
opened before them. Nationalism
/ with it's passions, French ardor Eng
land. rival jealousies, the apotheosis
of war. many shadows in the picture
apart from JOan's 'weaknesses;" all
this brought up Il vision of endless
procedure. Mgr. Dupanloup. in his
stirring way. rushed through this ter
ror like IL whrlwind. bearing down re-
| St.l1l f.n in IN of p<.sS,
case was begun. There was ut Or
leans an antiquarian of the old school,
innocent us IL child and learned as the
Benedictines. On his deathled. two
years ago, Able Desoyers asked Mgr
Touchet the question: do you believe
that | have been Il scholar more than
Il priest?" His candor was inspired
by the glory of the heroine. But
Rome. anxious for the maintenance
of her c;lnOnS, insisted that the Inul-
sitiOn should he begun all over again.
1t was Frances good fortune that at
the Vatican there was somebody who
could read the souls of the men and
of the nations. Cardinal parocchi,
who had charge of the investigation.
had the gift of Imagination and the
charm of elOquence. In the winter
of 1893, at the first plenary meeting
when Joan of Arc was proclaimed
! Venerable. his plea reused such APP
| pHuSe that the Cardinals, in their eX-
element. thought of prOclaiming the
qualification at once by reclamation.
Cardinal LanyenieuX objected. 1t is
his merit. and will ever be his honor.
that he chilled the enthusiastic: for
the suit. as it proceeds, will throw
light on every page of the epic and
will wipe out the disturbing shadows
from the picture full of wonders.
Despite Leo NILS good will. ten
years went by. Rome supplied itself
with all the testimony. In the front
row we have Mgr. Touchct. the con-
queror. He told the Pope what he be-
licvcu. Fond of great ideas and of
pageants. Leo NH. allowed himself
to be carried away by the magic of
the prelate's firm conviction. "And
your mind is made up? You know
that Joan is blcssed?' "AIost Holy
Father, l wished to be sure, l have
| Studied believe ifs When Mgr