JOAN OF ARC
The story of Joan of Arc is extremely relevant to the development of Christianity
because it illustrates how the power of total faith and unquestioning devotion to
Christian beliefs can lead to achieving miraculous accomplishments. In this paper we
will briefly review Joan of Arc’s story before discussing her importance in the unfolding
of Christianity, as well as the contributions her story made in emphasising the power of
faith regardless of who you are as long as you have total belief.
Joan of Arc was an exceptional young girl, whose utter devotion to Catholic faith and to
her country led her to achieve remarkable triumphs. In 1428 France was in grave
danger (Beyond the myth , Schoyer, inside cover). The Hundred year’s War caused the
English to occupy much of France’s northern territory (Britannica, “Joan of Arc”). An
impoverished French king, Charles VII, had not yet been crowned, and the town of his
coronation, Reims, was in England’s hands (Britannica, “Joan of Arc”). Plague, warfare
and religious strife left France with very little hope for the future (Beyond the myth ,
Schoyer, inside cover). Into this calamity, intervened a new heroine: a young illiterate
peasant girl named Joan from the little town of Domremy (Beyond the myth , Schoyer,
inside cover). Inspired by her love for France, by her determination, by her visions
of St. Michael, St. Margaret and St. Catherine and especially by her true devotion to
Christianity, Joan of Arc subdued the doubts of everyone from her parents to the king
himself (Joan of Arc, Schlesinger, p13). Born in 1412, Joan was only 17 years old and
tending to her sheep when she heard voices and had a heavenly vision commanding her
to save her country by clearing the Dauphin’s way to the throne (DK Illustrated
Encaeclopedia, “Joan of Arc”). Being a devout catholic, she did not doubt for a moment
that these were...