May 30

One of five children born to Jacques d'Arc and Isabelle Romee. Shepherdess. Mystic. From age 13 she received visions from Saint Margaret of Antioch, Saint Catherine of Alexandria, and Michael the Archangel.

In the early 15th century, England, in alliance with Burgundy, controlled most of what is modern France. In May 1428 Joan's visions told her to find the true king of France and help him reclaim his throne. She resisted for more than three years, but finally went to Charles VII in Chinon and told him of her visions. Carrying a banner that read "Jesus, Mary", she led troops from one battle to another. She was severely wounded, but her victories from February 23, 1429 to May 23, 1430 brought Charles VII to the throne.

Captured by the Burgundians during the defense of Compiegne, she was sold to the English for 10 thousand francs. She was put on trial by an ecclesiastical court conducted by Pierre Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais, a supporter of England, and she was executed on May 30, 1431 as a heretic. In 1456 her case was re-tried, and Joan was acquitted (23 years later).

Joan was canonized as a saint of the Catholic Church on May 16, 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.

"About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter." - Saint Joan of Arc, as recorded at her trial