On January 6, 1412, a girl was born in a small French village called Domrémy: Joan (Jeanne in French).

Her family were poor but pious peasants! Her father, Jacques, and her mother, Isabelle, had a small farm!

Joan had four siblings! It was a simple, hardworking, Catholic family!

France was in a terrible war: the Hundred Years' War against England!

Soldiers plundered! Burned! Killed! It was a time of suffering!

But Joan grew up pious, praying much, helping her parents!

1424: The Heavenly Voices

When Joan was 13 years old, something extraordinary happened!

It was summer! Joan was in her father's garden at noon!

Suddenly, she saw bright light! And heard a voice!

The voice was gentle but powerful! It said: "Joan, be good and pious! Go to church frequently!"

Joan was frightened! "Who are you?"

The voice answered: "I am the Archangel Saint Michael! God sent me to you!"

In the following days, the voices returned!

Not only Saint Michael, but also Saint Catherine of Alexandria and Saint Margaret of Antioch!

They appeared surrounded by light! With crowns! Beautiful and glorious!

At first, they only advised Joan: "Pray! Be pure! Trust in God!"

Joan obeyed! She prayed even more! She went to Mass daily!

She made a vow of virginity! She wanted to belong only to God!

The Impossible Mission

At 16 years old, the voices gave Joan an extraordinary mission!

"Joan, you must go to France! You must find the Dauphin (prince) Charles! You must free him from enemies! You must crown him king at Reims!"

Joan was shocked! "Me? I'm just a poor girl! I don't know how to fight! How can I do this?"

"God will be with you! Don't be afraid!"

Joan cried! It was an impossible mission!

But she knew: when God calls, you must obey!

Joan went to the local captain, Robert de Baudricourt!

"Sir, God sent me! I need to go to Dauphin Charles! I need to save France!"

Baudricourt laughed! "You? A peasant girl? You're crazy! Go home!"

Joan returned! But the voices insisted!

She returned to Baudricourt several times!

Finally, Baudricourt yielded! "Alright! I'll give you an escort! But if you fail, it's your fault!"

The Journey to the Dauphin

In February 1429, Joan was 17 years old!

She cut her hair short! She wore men's clothes! (For safety on the journey!)

She set out with six men on a journey of 450 kilometers!

Through enemy territory! Full of dangers!

They traveled 11 days! Sleeping little! Crossing rivers! Fleeing from soldiers!

But Joan wasn't afraid! She prayed constantly!

And they arrived safe and sound at Chinon, where Dauphin Charles was!

The Meeting with the Dauphin

Charles VII (the Dauphin) was weak and indecisive!

France was almost lost to the English!

Paris was occupied! Orléans besieged! Everything seemed lost!

Charles decided to test Joan!

He hid among the courtiers! He put another man on the throne!

"If she really comes from God, she'll recognize me!" he thought.

Joan entered the hall full of richly dressed nobles!

She had never seen the Dauphin! She didn't know what he looked like!

But she walked straight to the hidden Charles!

She knelt: "Gentle Dauphin, God sent me to help you!"

Charles was astonished! "How did you recognize me?"

"God showed me!"

Later, in private, Joan revealed to Charles things that only he knew!

A secret prayer he had made! Doubts in his heart!

Charles was convinced: "She really comes from God!"

The Armor and the Sword

Charles had theologians examine Joan!

For three weeks, they questioned her about everything!

They wanted to know if she came from God or the devil!

Joan answered with simplicity and wisdom!

Finally they declared: "We find nothing evil in her!"

Charles decided: "I'll give her an army!"

They made complete armor for Joan!

White and shining! Like a knight's!

Joan said: "There's a sword buried behind the altar of the church of Saint Catherine of Fierbois! Bring it!"

How did she know? No one knew of a sword there!

But they went and found exactly where she said!

It was an ancient sword with five crosses engraved!

Joan took it: "This is my sword!"

The Banner

But Joan didn't want to kill!

The voices said: "Carry a banner! Don't use the sword to kill!"

Joan had a white banner made!

With an image of Jesus and Mary! And the words: "JESUS MARIA"!

"I love my banner forty times more than my sword!" she said.

"I carry it so as not to kill anyone! I never killed any man!"

Besieged Orléans

The city of Orléans had been besieged by the English for months!

If it fell, France was lost!

Joan told Charles: "God sent me to free Orléans!"

In April 1429, Joan set out with an army!

She was only 17 years old! But she commanded thousands of soldiers!

The soldiers loved her! "She's sent by God!" they said.

Joan made them confess! Pray! Stop blaspheming!

She transformed an undisciplined army into a pious force!

The Liberation of Orléans

On April 29, Joan entered Orléans!

People cried with joy! "The Maid has come to save us!"

Joan attacked the English forts around the city!

She fought courageously! She scaled walls! She raised the banner!

She was wounded by an arrow in the shoulder! But she didn't stop!

She pulled out the arrow! She returned to battle!

On May 8, 1429, just 9 days after arriving...

Orléans was free! The English fled!

It was a miraculous victory! Humanly impossible!

People shouted: "Miracle! Miracle! The Maid freed us!"

Joan knelt and cried: "Thank you, God! The glory is Yours!"

She didn't boast! She didn't take credit!

She gave all glory to God!

Toward Reims

After Orléans, Joan won several battles!

Patay! Jargeau! Meung! Beaugency!

The English fled in fear! "The French witch!" they called her.

But Joan wasn't a witch! She was a saint!

In July, Joan told Charles: "Now we go to Reims! For your coronation!"

Reims was in territory controlled by the English!

It seemed madness! But Joan insisted!

"God wants you crowned there! Let's go!"

July 17, 1429: The Coronation

The journey to Reims was triumphant!

Cities opened their gates! Enemies fled!

On July 17, in Reims Cathedral, Charles VII was crowned king of France!

Joan was there! Standing with her banner!

When they placed the crown on Charles, Joan cried!

She had fulfilled the mission God gave her!

She freed Orléans! She crowned the king! In just 4 months!

After the coronation, Joan asked: "Your Majesty, may I go home now?"

The voices had said her mission was complete!

But Charles asked: "Stay! We still need you!"

Joan, obedient, stayed!

But she knew in her heart: what was to come would be different...