Final Exam Religion Essays

Anna Hardy

September 3rd, 2013

Joan of Arc

A saint who speaks to me or touches me in some way

Saints are defined as “models of holiness relevant to contemporary believers (Martin 6). They act as “older brothers or sisters to whom one could look for advice and counsel (Martin 7). A saint that speaks to like an older sister is Joan of Arc. She touches me with her passion for God, her true bravery, and her stand against sexism.

Joan of Arc touched me with her adoring love for God. After being told by Saint Catherine, Saint Margaret, and Saint Michael to save France from the English, Joan of Arc took the holy initiative to enlighten her mission to all of Orléans. Later, Joan of Arc predicted battles’ outcomes and started to become more important in the eyes of the kingdom. In 1429, she took her devotion for God a step further by freeing Orléans from the English. She charged the English camp proudly holding a Trinity banner to show her adoring love for God. During the time of war she avoided her “sexual desire for her fellow soldiers during their campaigns” and devoted her body and soul to her God. Unfortunately, years later she was captured by Burgundian army and handed over the their ally, the English. Joan of Arc was tortured and prosecuted for heresy and witchcraft. Throughout the years of torture and constant critics form the executioners Joan of Arc stayed true to herself and her faith for the Lord. She never once second-guessed her undeniable connection to her fellow Saints and to her one and only God. Even at the end of her valiant life, as she was being burned alive at the stake, she expressed her love for the Lord by saying “Jesus, Jesus.”

To me Joan of Arc’s true bravery and wits is inspirational. France needed a soul with a brave heart and Joan of Arc in order to regain power. In 1428 Orléans and French territory was besieged by England. Guided by heavenly voices, Joan of Arc predicted defeats, and eventually “led the army into battle in...