After the coronation of Charles VII, Joan's mission was complete!

The voices had said: "Free Orléans! Crown the king!"

She had done both! In just 4 months! At age 17!

But Charles VII asked her to stay! "We still need you!"

Joan, always obedient, continued fighting!

But something had changed... Victories stopped coming so easily...

The Attack on Paris

In September 1429, Joan wanted to attack Paris (controlled by the English)!

But Charles VII hesitated! He preferred to negotiate!

Joan insisted! They attacked Paris!

But this time... they failed!

Joan was seriously wounded in the leg by an arrow!

She had to retreat! It was the first defeat!

The voices had warned: "You will not last more than a year!"

May 23, 1430: The Capture

In spring 1430, Joan was defending the city of Compiègne!

During a battle, enemy Burgundians (allied with the English) surrounded her!

Joan fought bravely! She tried to escape!

But she was captured! Pulled from her horse!

She was only 18 years old!

The Burgundians imprisoned her! She was lost!

Sold to the English

The Burgundians sold Joan to the English for 10,000 francs!

As if she were merchandise! As if she were a slave!

And Charles VII, the king she crowned? He did nothing to save her!

He didn't offer ransom! He didn't negotiate! He didn't try to free her!

It was terrible betrayal! Joan felt abandoned!

But she didn't abandon God! She kept praying! Trusting!

The English took her to Rouen (a city in Normandy)!

There, they imprisoned her in a tower!

They chained her feet! They put guards 24 hours!

They treated her like a dangerous criminal!

Joan was alone! Without friends! Without family!

Only God! And God was enough!

The Unjust Trial

The English wanted to destroy Joan's reputation!

If she was a witch or heretic, then her victories were from the devil!

And Charles VII would be an illegitimate king crowned by a witch!

So they set up a religious trial!

Bishop Pierre Cauchon (a French traitor allied with the English!) led it!

They gathered dozens of theologians and judges!

The trial began on February 21, 1431!

Joan was 19 years old! Alone against dozens of learned men!

They asked complicated questions! Theological traps!

They wanted her to contradict herself! To admit being a witch!

But Joan, without education, without a lawyer, answered with extraordinary wisdom!

"Are you in a state of grace?" they asked (a trap question!).

Joan: "If I am not, may God put me there! If I am, may God keep me there!"

Perfect answer! The judges were speechless!

The Male Clothing

One of the main points of accusation: Joan wore men's clothing!

"This is against God's law!" they accused.

Joan explained: "I wear men's clothing for protection!"

In prison, with male guards constantly around, masculine clothing protected her from assault!

But the judges didn't accept!

"It's a grave sin!" they insisted.

May 24: The "Abjuration"

After months of brutal interrogation, Joan was exhausted!

They threatened her with torture! With the stake!

They promised: "If you admit you were wrong, we'll give you light imprisonment!"

Joan, young and frightened, signed a document she couldn't read!

They said it was an admission of error! That she would never wear masculine clothing again!

But it was a trap...

Instead of light imprisonment, they kept her chained!

And they stole her female clothing! They left only masculine!

Joan woke up and saw: either stay naked, or wear men's clothing!

She had no choice! She wore masculine clothing!

Immediately the judges shouted: "She broke her promise! She's a relapsed heretic!"

It was all rigged! They wanted justification to kill her!

The Death Sentence

On May 30, 1431, they brought Joan to the tribunal for the last time!

Cauchon read the sentence: "Joan, you are a heretic! Condemned to the stake!"

Joan cried! Not from fear, but from sadness!

"The Church condemns me!" she lamented. (But it wasn't the true Church - it was a corrupt tribunal!)

She cried out for Charles VII: "King of France, what injustice they do to me!"

But Charles was far away... and did nothing...

May 30, 1431: The Martyrdom

On the morning of May 30, they took Joan to the Rouen market!

There was the stake - a pile of wood ready to burn!

Crowds came to watch! Some with hatred! Many with compassion!

Joan was 19 years old! She had lived so little! But done so much!

Before climbing onto the stake, Joan asked for a cross!

An English soldier made a simple cross from two pieces of wood!

Joan kissed it and held it against her chest!

They tied Joan to the post!

A kind priest, Friar Martin Ladvenu, climbed up with her holding a crucifix!

"Look at Jesus, Joan! He is with you!"

They lit the fire!

The flames rose! The smoke engulfed Joan!

But even so, everyone heard her voice clearly:

"JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!"

That was her last cry! The name of Jesus!

Witnesses reported extraordinary things:

An English soldier swore he saw a white dove coming out of the flames!

It was Joan's soul ascending to heaven!

The executioner, who had killed many, cried: "We are lost! We burned a saint!"

Even judge Cauchon trembled with fear in the following years!

Joan's ashes were thrown into the Seine River so they wouldn't become relics!

But they couldn't destroy her memory! Nor her example!

1456: The Rehabilitation

25 years after Joan's death, Charles VII finally acted!

Ashamed, he asked for a new trial!

The Pope authorized it! They reopened the case!

They heard hundreds of witnesses! They examined documents!

The truth became clear: the first trial was total fraud!

On July 7, 1456, they declared: "Joan is innocent! She was a martyr!"

Her name was cleared! Her honor restored!

1909: Beatification

Throughout the centuries, Joan's fame only grew!

France saw her as a national heroine!

The Church carefully studied her life!

In 1909, Pope Pius X beatified Joan!

It was a huge celebration in Paris! All of France celebrated!

Blessed Joan of Arc, Maid of Orléans!

May 16, 1920: Canonization

In 1920, 489 years after her death, something extraordinary!

In St. Peter's Basilica in Rome, Pope Benedict XV canonized Joan!

Saint Joan of Arc!

50,000 people present! Representatives from all of France!

Cardinals, bishops, faithful! All celebrating!

The peasant girl who died burned at age 19...

Was now a Saint of the Universal Church!

Patroness of France

In 1922, Pope Pius XI declared Saint Joan of Arc Secondary Patroness of France!

Today, her feast is celebrated on May 30 - the day of her martyrdom!

Churches are dedicated to her! Statues throughout France!

Her home in Domrémy is a museum!

Rouen, where she died, has a cathedral dedicated to her!

Saint Joan of Arc is one of the world's most beloved saints!

The Legacy of Saint Joan of Arc

Saint Joan leaves us a precious legacy:

⚔️ Extraordinary courage - She faced armies and tribunals without fear!

⚔️ Obedience to God - Even when it seemed madness, she obeyed!

⚔️ Heroic purity - She maintained virginity even among soldiers!

⚔️ Unshakeable faith - Even in the flames, she cried "Jesus!"

⚔️ Humility in victory - She gave all glory to God!

⚔️ Perseverance in suffering - She didn't curse her enemies!

⚔️ Love of country - She gave her life for France!

⚔️ Trust in God - "I fear nothing, because God is with me!"

Saint Joan Today

Today, Saint Joan of Arc continues to inspire!

Military invoke her as protector!

Youth see her as an example of courage!

Women admire her as a pioneer!

Patriots honor her as a heroine!

Christians venerate her as a martyr!

Her life proves: God uses whoever is faithful, not whoever is famous!

He uses whoever obeys, not whoever is powerful!

The Last Words

Let us never forget: Joan was only 19 years old when she died!

The age when many are starting college!

But she had already liberated a city! Crowned a king! Faced armies!

And she faced death with courage that shamed grown men!

Her last words were: "JESUS! JESUS! JESUS!"

What perfect words! The name that saved! The name that comforted! The name that carried to heaven!