May 30 | Saint Joan of Arc

Welcome, young history buffs and curious minds, to My Daily Saint, the podcast that digs deep into the incredible lives of the saints, those remarkable people who shaped history and continue to inspire us today. Forget dusty old portraits and boring stories. Today, imagine that your country has been steadily ripped apart by war for decades. The enemy is advancing, the army is losing hope, and the man who was supposed to be your king is hiding out, too weak to claim his throne.

Who is going to save the nation? A seasoned general? A wealthy lord with a secret army? No. The savior of the nation is a 13-year-old peasant girl. Today, we are looking at one of the most famous teenagers in human history. She wore heavy armor, carried a massive banner into the heart of battle, and terrified the greatest political powers of her time. She is the patron saint of soldiers and of France. Her name? Saint Joan of Arc.

To understand just how wild Joan's story is, we have to rewind to the year 1412. Joan was born in a small French town called Domre-Migrou to a family of pious peasant farmers. She was a normal, faithful kid, doing chores and praying with her family. But when she turned 12, her life completely changed.

Joan started having visions and hearing the voices of three saints. St. Michael the Archangel, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Margaret. At first, the saints just encouraged her to live a good, holy life dedicated to God. But a year later, when Joan was 13, the message suddenly changed. The voices gave her a massive, seemingly impossible mission. She had to drive the invading English forces out of French territory and make sure the rightful heir to the throne, the Dauphin, was crowned king in the city of Reims.

For three years, the visions continued, and when Joan turned 16, the saints became incredibly insistent. It was time to act. Joan went to a nearby commander to ask for permission to visit the royal court, but her request was met with total ridicule. People literally thought this peasant girl had lost her mind. But Joan was relentless. She finally convinced two soldiers to escort her to the Dauphin. Charles VII. When she arrived, Charles decided to test her. He disguised himself as an ordinary courier and put a fake king on the throne to see if she was a fraud.

But the moment Joan walked into the room, she completely ignored the fake king, walked straight up to the disguised Charles, and knelt before him. Having won his trust, Joan was given an army. She chopped off her hair, strapped on men's armor, which was just a practical choice for surviving on a battlefield, and rode out to lead the expedition to Orleans. Here is what makes Joan's time in battle so unique. God granted her profound wisdom and even the ability to see the future.

Yet, despite being in the middle of fierce warfare, Joan never actually killed anyone. Instead, she courageously led her troops by carrying a battle banner covered in the symbols of Jesus and Mary. Under her fearless leadership, the French army broke the siege of Orleans, and soon after, she stood proudly by as Charles VII was officially crowned king. Mission accomplished, right? Well, not quite.

Soon after the crowning, Joan was captured by enemy forces from Burgundy. Joan tried to escape, but the newly crowned King Charles completely abandoned her, making no real effort to rescue the girl who had practically handed him his kingdom. She was eventually handed over to her greatest enemies, the English and their clergy. What followed was a brutal, exhausting trial. The English wanted to execute her, but They needed a religious excuse to do it, so they tried to frame her for heresy and witchcraft.

They completely deprived her of sleep, spied on her during her private confessions, and dragged her into court for hours of grueling cross-examinations. But Joan's mind stayed razor-sharp, and she remained completely unflinching in her faith. At one point, they tried to trap her with a trick question, asking if she knew for sure that she was in God's grace. This was a trap because theology says it is impossible to know that for certain, so if she said yes, she'd be a heretic. Joan delivered one of the greatest comeback lines in history.

If I am not, may God put me there, and if I am, may God so keep me. Despite her innocence, her death was already decided as a political necessity by the English. In the year 1431, at only 19 years old, Joan was burned at the stake. As she faced the flames, she clutched a small cross made from the very wood she was being burned upon, dying as a brave and loyal saint.

Years later, a posthumous trial officially cleared her name, proving she was totally innocent all along. Joan's story is the ultimate proof that God doesn't always pick the biggest, oldest, or strongest people to do His most important work. Your challenge is similar. Stand firm in what you know is right, even if people think you're crazy. When Joan first told people about her mission, they laughed at her and called her names. But she didn't let the fear of other people's Many people's opinions silence God's voice in her life.

Today, you will face moments where you have to stand up for a friend who is being bullied, tell the truth when it's easier to lie, or practice your faith when it isn't popular. In those moments, put on your spiritual armor, trust the voice of God, and stand your ground. Thank you for joining us on My Daily Saint. We look forward to sharing another incredible story of faith and courage with you tomorrow.