The Catholic bulletin. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1911-1995, 1920-05-15
HEROIC MAID OF FRANCE RAISED
TO HONORS OF ALTAR-SAVED
FRANCE IN FIFTEENTH GEN.
TURY-LED ARMIES TO MANY
VICTORIES - FINALLY CAP
TURED AND BURNED AT THE
STAkE-CANONiZ WILL
TAKE PLACE TOMORROW.

Tomorrow, May Is, Joan of Arc will
be raised to the hOnors of SainthOOd
by Pope Benedict XIV in Rome.
St. Joan of Arc was known by her
Maid. She was born at Domremy in
Champagne, France, probably on Jan
uary 6, 1412, and died at ROuen, May
80, 1431. Her father, Jacques dare,
was small peasant farmer, poor but
not needy. Joan was the youngest of
family of five. She never learned
to read or write but was skilled in the
domestic duties of her class. She was
a singularly pious child, grave beyond
her years, and she was often found in
the church absorbed in prayer.
When she was little over thirteen
years of age, Joan first became con-
scious of a supernatural manifestation
which she afterwards began to call her
"vOices." These revelations were lat
er on accompanied by the appearance
of st. Michael, st. Margaret, St. Cath
crime and other Saints who spoke to
her. For some time Joan kept her
secret to herself.
Called to Help France.
About May, 1923, Joan became aware
through her voices" that she was bid
den to go to the help of the King,
Charles VII. Charles was at that time
in war with the Duke of Burgundy who
| was in alliance with the English.
Joan, therefore, went to the neighbor-
ing town of Vaucouleurs and presented
| herself to Baudricourt, the command
| er. He ridiculed both her and her
mission. Joan's voices became insist
ent, and when told by them, "It is God
| who commands it," she again present
| ed herself to the authorities. On Feb
ruary II she announced great defeat
which had befallen the French arms
outside Orleans. This statement was
confirmed a few days later, and gave
her some prestige. Finally she was
admitted to the presence of Charles
| VII. To test her the King had dis
guised himself, but she at once salut-
| ed him without hesitation amidst a
| group of attendants.
| She was at first opposed by a mill
tary clique, but through a supernatural
sign the King was completely won
over to believe in her. Before taking
up her work Joan was subjected to a
| severe examination by a numerous
committee of learned bishops and doc
tors and they found her faith and hon
esty admirable and devoid of all super
| stition.
Prepares for War.
| Joan now made preparations for the
campaign. Refusing the sword offered
her by the King, she spoke of a sword
that had been buried in certain
church. Although this was doubted
and denied, the sword finally was
found as her voices had indicated. She
had made a. standard bearing the
words Jesus, Maria, with picture OF
God the Father, and kneeling angels
presenting the Fleur-di-lis.
! ForeteIIs Future.
| At this time the Maid SAID tnat Sne
would save Orleans and would compe
the English to raise the siege, that SHE
herself in a battle before Orlean:
would be wounded by a shaft bu
would not die of it, and that the King
in the course of the coming summer
would be crowned at Rheims, togethe
with other things which the Kin,
! keeps secret
Before entering upon her campaign
Joan summoned the King of Englan,
{ to withdraw his troops from Frencl
) soil. The English commanders wer
) furious at the audacity of this girl
) But by rapid military movements in
: few days Joan with her troops entere
J Orleans, captured the forts and raise
J the siege, though she herself wa