St Jeanne d'Arc is renowned as the teenage peasant girl who led the French army to seemingly impossible victory against the English. Her peasant life was entirely ordinary until it became near-mythical. Jeanne earnestly obeyed God's call, no matter how incredulous that call seemed. Her obedience to God ushered in French victory, the coronation of the French Dauphin, and the end of the Hundred Years' War that had wrought generations of suffering.

In her holy tenacity, Jeanne made powerful enemies, both political and ecclesial. On May 30, 1431, they falsely convicted Jeanne as a heretic and burned her at the stake. They threw her ashes into the Seine river, trying to make her disappear forever. 

But Jeanne's mother, Isabelle Romée, rejected this end of the story. Isabelle's relentless efforts led to a posthumous rehabilitation trial for Jeanne. Decades after her body disappeared in the smoke and the river, Jeanne d'Arc was proclaimed a holy innocent.

And—she did not disappear at all. In fact, she is one of the most iconic and most-depicted women in history, a heroine beloved by those with faith and without. Her feast is May 30, the day not only of her execution, but also of her eternally triumphant yes to God.

So there's a lot to celebrate! Feast days matter because they're an opportunity to connect the visible and invisible, the goodness of body and soul, the gift of our senses and the gift of grace. Here are seven ideas:

• Visit the Maid of Orleans statue in the Place de France near the French Market. My favorite element of this golden statue is the look on her face: determined, focused, and so very young. The statue was a gift from the people of France to the city of New Orleans (Nouvelle Orléans). The small surrounding park features plaques with coats of arms from towns and cities connected to Jeanne, including Orléans, Rouen, and Reims. (Fun: This statue looks like a twin of another located across from the Louvre in Paris).

• Join the Krewe of Jeanne d'Arc in their annual May 30 festivities. The krewe's major annual event is a gorgeous tableaux-style walking parade that occurs every January 6 on Jeanne's birthday, which happens to be Epiphany and the opening of Carnvival. On her feast day, the krewe hosts a service of vespers at the Old Ursuline convent, followed by bringing flowers to the Maid of Orleans statue and, of course, a French Quarter party.

• Pray at St Louis Cathedral. One of the oldest Catholic places of worship in the United States, the cathedral has strong ties to France (as does pretty much all of the city). There is a striking 120-year-old statue of Jeanne at the rear of the nave.

• Read the transcripts of Jeanne's trials. The transcripts contain her own testimony as well as that of her family, people who grew up with her, and her battle companions. The words offer a powerful immediacy and insight into Jeanne as a real young woman, not a figure of legend.

• Enjoy French shopping (or browsing). Gem de France on Royal Street imports classic products from France like linens, soaps, tableware, and home decor—a fun excursion.

• Ride the Algiers ferry across the Mississippi River. This $2 fare offers beautiful views of the cathedral and Jackson Square, plus a sense of connection to Jeanne's often arduous advance across the rivers and forests of France. I also think the Mississippi's muddy girth resembles the Seine. You can get off and explore the charming neighborhoods and cafes of Algiers Landing, and then come back across.

• Eat and drink something French. Most of these places are in the French Quarter so you can access them easily from the Maid of Orleans statue and the cathedral.

  1. Cafe Beignet: Beignets are basically the same everywhere, so you’re really just looking for the best ambiance. Our favorite is this charming tiled location on Royal Street.

  2. Croissant d’Or: This French patisserie resides near the Old Ursulines convent, serving up croissants and more in a vintage interior of brass fixtures and pretty tiled arches.

  3. Cafe Amelie: This is special place for a wonderful lunch or dinner in the French Quarter.

  4. French Truck: Where else would you go for coffee? There are locations on Canal Street (just outside the French Quarter) and Chartres Street.

  5. Delachaise (pictured above): Take the streetcar out of the French Quarter and up St Charles Avenue to our favorite wine bar. The petite white lights, the red banquettes, the cozy brass bar, and the menu—charcuterie, goose-fat frites, beaujolais—will make you feel like you're in Paris.

  6. Le Petit Bleu: This bright turquoise cafe/ crêperie serves breakfast, lunch, brunch, and early dinner with good prices and fantastic baked goods. Sometimes they even greet you in French!

  7. Cafe Degas: This is our all-time favorite cafe with excellent charcuterie, mussels and frites, and wine. It has no walls because it is built around a tree!

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"I retire alone, and pray to God, and, my prayer ended, I hear a Voice which says to me: 'Daughter of God! go on! go on! go on! I will be your Help: go on!' And when I hear this Voice, I have great joy."

+St Jeanne d'Arc

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