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Oil Dedicated to St Joan of Arc 3 (Patron for Military Personnel)

St Joan of Arc 3 (Patron for Military Personnel) from A Blessed Call To Love, Ireland.

Saint Joan of Arc, known as “The Maid of Orléans,” is indeed considered a patroness of prisoners, as well as of soldiers and France. Her connection to prisoners is likely due to her own experience as a captive, enduring harsh conditions before her eventual execution.

Born around 1412 in Domrémy, France, Joan’s life shaped by the ongoing conflict known as the Hundred Years’ War. At a young age, she began experiencing visions that she interpreted as messages from saints, urging her to support Charles VII and help drive the English out of France.

Joan convinced Charles VII of her mission, and she played a crucial role in the Siege of Orléans in 1429, which marked a turning point in the war. Her successes on the battlefield made her a symbol of French resistance.

However, in 1430, she captured by the Burgundians, allies of the English, during a military campaign. She  put on trial for a range of charges, including heresy, cross-dressing (due to her wearing male military attire), and claiming direct communication with God.

Despite a series of trials, Joan maintained her claims of divine guidance. In May 1431, she convicted and burned at the stake, dying at around 19 years of age.

In 1456, a posthumous retrial cleared her name, and she declared a martyr. Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909 and canonized as a saint in 1920 by the Roman Catholic Church. Her feast day celebrated on May 30th. Joan’s courage, faith, and commitment to her cause, even in the face of imprisonment and death, continue to inspire people around the world.