The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1918-06-01
JOAN OF ARC AND FRANCE

AS it proved later the English re-
tired to Meung, a town about ten
miles down the Loire from Orleans,
which had been a long time In pos
session of the English. ...
After following them a few leagues
the French army turned back to Or
leans and the day was given up to pro-
cessions to the churches in thanks
giving; and later in the day to civic
and military parades and music and
illuminations.
In the evening the populace spread
itself freely and happily outside the
gates over the open fields from which
they had been SO long shut off, and
enjoyed the spring freshness of
meadow and forest to the full.
Twas a happy day to Orleans and
to this day it is sacred to religious
professions in the morning and mill
tary parades and maneuvers in the
afternoon-it is Joan of Arc day
May 8.
Burned at the Stake.
The siege of Orleans, the beginning
OF the end of the English in France,
was raised May 8, 1929. At the close
OF May, just two years later, the de-
liverer of France was burned at the
stake ly.I
The trial of the Holy Maid, one of
the most appalling dramas in all his.
tory, began on February 21, and
stretched its tortuous length over two
months and half. OF it our author
writes: +
The illegal trial was to end in il,
legal execution.
But no one was there to protest.
The fear of the English was more
than the fear of God, and the English
were in hurry.
1t was drawing toward noon time.
The Dominicans, Isambard and Lad
Veanu, drew near to Joan and spoke
words of courage. /
Joan kneeled down between them
and in loud clear tones prayed for
France, for her king. She begged the
prayers and forgiveness of all those
around her, her enemies, as well as
those who wept with her. The cries
Of the women beyond the Gordon OF
soldiers came to her ears and almost
unnerVed her. She begged for cross.
An English soldier took a fagOt
from the pile prepared for her burn
ing, broke it in two and fastened it in
the shape of a cross. She thankfully
took it, kissed it, and placed it in
her bosom.
All this time the executioners were
placing her in position and fastening
her body with chains to the stake, in
several places, from her shoulders to
her knees.
Friar Isambard was speaking words
of comfort and courage and holding
the CrucifiX to her lips. But her ene-
mics were in hurry.
Joan begged Isambard to keep the
cross before her eyes till the last. On
her head was placed a paper cap
bearing the inscription:
Hereto, Relapsed, Apostate, Idola-
ter, and out of reach of the fire was
a large placard bearing her record
according to these judges, that she
blasphemed God, reviled the Saints,
despised the Church, held dealings
with Satan and other vile charges.
High up and close to her eyes Isam-
bard held the Crucifix, while the exc
cutioner placed the Goals among the
dry fagots below and the first whiff
OF smoke drew an agonizing cry from
her lips. Only one. She called from
out the flame the sweet name of Jesus
and repeated it many times. Most
of the people, and great many of the
judges went away at the first sign of
the smoke rising, not wanting to see
what would harrow their souls.
Swiftly the flames shot up and en-.
veloped her. Once the executioner
forcibly parted them to let those in.
terested see she was really there and
had not vanished nor been rescued.
With one last loud cry of Jesus, .
her sufferings were at last ended, and
a black page fastened forever in Eng
lands history. Joan of Arc was nc
more on earth. She was with heI
Saints in Paradise.