"Men fight, only God gives victory. " (Jeanne d Arc)
There were still more than twenty years to finish the long and bloody war between England and France which has gone down in history as the Hundred Years War (1337 - 1453). In a conflict which ravaged and impoverished peoples in conflict, a young illiterate but pious and deeply religious led the French armies to victory at Orleans. Abandoned by everyone from the King Hung with its value until one day the church believed in their divine voices, Joan of Arc was given to the British enemy and burned at the stake. The Maid of Orleans would have to wait many centuries to see their courage rewarded.
This holy at age 17 became a national hero and martyr of religion. Joan of Arc was born in 1412 in Donremy, France. His father was called James of Arc and was a farmer. Juana
up in the country and never learned to read or write. But his mother was very pious instilled great trust in Heavenly Father and a tender devotion to the Virgin Mary. Every Saturday the girl picking flowers Juana field to bring the altar of Our Lady. Each month, confessed and took communion, and his great desire was to become holy and never to commit any sin. It was so good and kind to everyone in town loved her.
France
His country was in very serious situation because the British had invaded that were quickly taken possession of many cities and made great havoc.
At fourteen the girl Joan began to feel some voices calling. At first I did not know who it was, but then began to see flashes and it appeared the archangel San Miguel, Santa Catalina and Santa Margarita and told him: "You must save the nation and the king." Fearing told no one anything at first, but then the voices were strongly insisting that she, poor and ignorant peasant girl, was intended to save the nation and the king and then told his family and neighbors. The first few times people did not believe him, but then at the insistence of the voices and prayers of the young, an uncle took her to where the army commander in the neighboring city. She said that God sent to bring a message to the king. But the military did not believe him and sent again to your home.
However
Juana few months later was reintroduced to the commander and this at the news of a defeat foretold the girl had sent an escort to go see the king.
Arriving in the city asked to speak to the king. To deceive the simple peasant dressed up and put into place to another. The young man came to the great room and instead of going to where he was the replacement of the king, guided by the "voices" who ran it went straight to where the king was dressed and spoke and told him secrets that King never imagined. This made the king totally changed my mind about the young peasant.
no longer missing, but a major city to fall into British hands. Was Orleans. And he was besieged by a strong English army. King Carlos and his military thought and lost the war. But Juana asks the king to grant her command over the troops. And the king appointed captain. John had made a white flag with the names of Jesus and Mary and in front of ten thousand men goes to Orleans.
Encouraged by the young captain, the French soldiers fought like heroes and drove the assailants and freed Orleans. Then they went to several other cities and also released. Juana
not fight or hurt anyone, but the head of the army went from group to group encouraging the soldiers and instilling enthusiasm and several times was wounded in battle.
After his resounding victories, won the Santa Juana King Charles VII feared agreed to be crowned head of the nation. This was done with impressive solemnity in the city of Reims. But then came the jealousy and then started for our holy a time of suffering and betrayal against her. Until now it had been a national hero. Now he would become a martyr. Many employees of the king's court were jealous that she would become too large and began to make war.
missing something very important country in that war: to conquer Paris, the capital, which was in enemy hands. And Jane went thither with his brave. But King Charles VII, for jealousy and compromise with the enemy, withdrew its troops and Joan was wounded in battle and taken prisoner by the Burgundians.
The French had left, but the British were extremely interested in having it in jail, and paid well over a thousand gold coins to those of Burgundy to be surrender and sentenced to life imprisonment. The English did suffer a lot in jail. The humiliations and insults were all day, every hour, to the point that Jane was to exclaim: "This prison has been for me a cruel martyrdom, as I never imagined I could be." But I kept praying with faith and proclaiming that if he had heard voices from heaven and that the campaign had done for save his country, had been the will of God.
At that time I was very fashionable to accuse women of witchcraft all that you wanted to disappear. And so the enemies accused Juana of witchcraft, saying that the victories he won was because he had made the English witchcraft so that they can defeat. She appealed to the Pope, asking him the Pope of Rome that the judge, but no one would take him to the Holy Father the news, and the court was composed exclusively of enemies of the saint. And although John said many times that he had never used witchcraft and was completely faithful and good Catholic, but the sentenced the most terrible deaths at the time: being burnt alive.
lit a bonfire and tied to a stake and burned slowly. He died praying and his greatest consolation was looking at the crucifix that he had a religious and entrusted to our Lord. Invoked the Archangel Michael, which had always had great devotion, pronouncing three times the name of Jesus, gave up his spirit. It was 29 May 1431.
was just 19 years. Several went home saying "Today we have burned a saint" . 23 years after his mother and his brothers asked to reopen again that trial had been made against her. And the Pope Callistus III appointed a commission of lawyers, which stated that the sentence was an injustice Juana. The king of France declared innocent and Pope Benedict XV proclaimed a saint.
Joan of Arc: today more than ever, give us a great love for our country. Amen
Sources: Divine Illumination
Catholic Saints Angel Corbalán
