Saint of the week: Joan of Arc
- Aimee Boudreaux MacIver
- May 27
- 4 min read
Joan of Arc occupies a big space in my life. I have written Joan of Arc’s story probably more times and in more ways than anyone else’s, even my own. To tell her story, I have written scripts, keynote presentations, podcast episodes, social media content, biographies for children and young adults, retreat talks, textbook features, pilgrimage materials, and even personal letters. Joan was the subject of the first-ever Thy Ship newsletter after its initial introduction. I have written about how to celebrate her feast and about my favorite parade, which is also devoted to telling her story. Her statue stands in the heart of two beloved cities, New Orleans and Paris. As you read this today, I am leading a group of young women on pilgrimage in Orléans, the city at the center of Joan’s military campaign.
So I’ve spent a great deal of time learning and thinking about Joan, then translating her story into insights and meaning for others. But even now, after all that, the real Joan remains just a little elusive. The more I get to know her, the more I realize that she is more often misunderstood and mischaracterized than not.
Jeanne d’Arc was born on January 6, 1412—King’s Day, a foreshadowing of her life’s mission to crown the French Dauphin. Her parents were Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle Romée, salt of the earth peasants who loved their children and passed on a simple but true faith. Until she received her visions on a summer day at age 13, Jeanne lived like every other girl in her village of Domremy: she tended sheep, spun flax, and participated in village life. There was not much hint of her future destiny as a borderline superhero.
Whenever I revisit her life, I wonder if all the Joan-as-legend misses the mark. If you read Jeanne’s own words, mostly transcribed by others for her letters and at her trials, you don’t get a fiery revolutionary. She speaks simply and earnestly. She talks about wishing she could be at home with her mother, if only God had not commanded her to go to battle. She submits to Church authority with obedience and reverence. I suspect she wouldn’t particularly understand or even like the way we so often present her.
Her courage was undeniable, but the dominant virtue in Jeanne is obedience. In fact, I’d argue that her obedience was far more important and rare than her courage. With all her heart, she simply obeyed what God told her to do, no matter how implausible or insignificant it seemed. How many of us truly do the same?
Although she believed that God had commissioned her to fulfill an ancient prophecy of a maiden who would save France, Jeanne saw herself only as a messenger. She was strikingly devoid of guile. She believed with literal pragmatism the unsophisticated faith she had been taught by her parents—do we? Truly?
Do we believe the saints and the Blessed Mother are not merely comforting stories, but real and present, listening to our prayers? Do we believe God is all-good and all-powerful, and expect His power and practical intervention in earthly matters?
Jeanne’s earnestness can sometimes seem overly literal and pure. She made such a big deal about her soldiers cursing and swearing that it’s tempting to complain: Really, Jeanne? Canons booming, arrows flying, the horses are freaking out, and you're hassling me about slipping a curse word? But obedience is actually pretty literal: do we live like God actually gave ten commandments, not ten suggestions?
Jeanne also grew exasperated with commanders and inquisitors when they resisted the clear logic of her commission. Of course she was a peasant girl who had zero competence in military strategy, but what difference did that make if God had sent her? She would ask them: Do you believe in God or not? When I place myself into the events, my honest impulse is to respond, It’s not that simple, Joan. Of course we believe in God, but you don’t understand how things work. And yet—she is utterly correct.
I think more than anything else, Jeanne embodies how obedience is the foundation of all sanctity, all virtue. It’s not so much that Jeanne possessed some rare, untamed fierceness, but a rare, undiluted obedience. She quite simply believed that God is God and that because God is God, nothing makes sense but to obey Him.
And when you boil it down, what else is the Christian life other than this?
St Joan of Arc’s feast is May 30.
Pilgrimage and still-grimage with St Jeanne d'Arc
The Victory of Joan of Arc is an incredible free podcast on YouTube and Spotify. It’s done in an “audio theater” style with characters, sound effects, and gripping storytelling. Listen together with your family as Joan’s story comes to life!
The movie Joan of Arc is an excellent biopic of her life. You can get a DVD here or stream it on YouTube.
Join the Krewe of Jeanne d'Arc for their annual May 30 prayer service, ceremony, and party in New Orleans.
Listen to this playlist I created that tracks Jeanne's life from calling to battle to victory to doubt to execution to Heaven.
Read Mark Twain's iconic work about Joan (the one he considered his most important).
This 30-day devotional offers accessible reflections together with Joan's own words (written by the parade Krewe president!).
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