May 30
An illiterate but intelligent French peasant girl, Joan was thrust into the Hundred Years’ War by her “voices,” inner promptings urging her to save France from England and Burgundy.
After meeting the French dauphin and being examined by theologians, she led the army to victories at Orleans and Patay.
Captured later by the Burgundians, she was abandoned by the dauphin and sold to the English, who burned her at the stake for witchcraft and heresy. Joan was rehabilitated by a papal commission in 1456.
She is the patroness of St. Joan of Arc Parish and Preschool in Phoenix.
