“Joan of Arc: Heroine of France” by Ann Trompert, illustrated by Michael Garland.
Boyds Mills Presss, Honesdale, Penn., 2003, 32 pages, Grades 2-4.
St. Paul tells us in 1st Corinthians 3:19 that the “wisdom of the world is folly with God.” What does this mean? Quite simply, that human minds are limited and can only function well when filled with God’s grace. This of course means that humanity must acknowledge that God is greater than themselves and that divine guidance is necessary. History is filled with examples of mankind refusing to accept this basic principle. When countries do not allow themselves to be led by God, they usually fall into war or ruin.
A prime example of this occurred in France in the 1430s. Having been overrun by English armies, the French were unable to use their own strength to dislodge the invaders. But God had other plans. He sent St. Michael the Archangel to the small town of Arc to call a young girl to lead France to victory. Can you imagine, a 14-year-old girl saving a great country like France? This seems like foolishness and folly to the wise military leaders of France. But this young girl, Joan of Arc, would prove the power of God’s wisdom.
Joan acts like most of the other children in Arc. She weaves, tends the sheep, plays games and prays in the local church. There is nothing extraordinary about her. But one day, St. Michael the Archangel appears to her, telling the child that God wants her to aid the king to save France. She is shocked but then begins hearing voices telling her of the mission God wants her to perform for France. She can hardly believe it because she is an uneducated peasant girl. But after more visions, Joan presents herself to a local military leader and asks to go to the French Crown Prince, the Dauphin. Reluctantly, he permits the visit and Joan goes to the Dauphin’s castle. Once there, she tells the Dauphin that she will help him raise an English siege of a walled French city and then accompany him to Rheims Cathedral to be crowned the King of France.
The Dauphin wonders if Joan is insane or a witch, but allows her to lead the French armies into battle. She quickly wins several important battles and then accompanies the Dauphin to his coronation in Rheims. But soon the rivals of the girl jealously plan her destruction. They find the right time and then strike. What happens to Joan?
Why do all these “great” men fear this young girl? How do some leaders in the Church also vilely attack Joan of Arc? What does the newly-crowned French king do to help Joan? Why in the end does Joan’s great obedience and love for God become the leaven for the regeneration of France? To find out, go to the library and check out this fine biography, “Joan of Arc: Heroine of France” by Ann Trompert.
This is a highly-recommended book about the life of a great saint. God raised up this simple peasant girl to save a great nation. Canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV, St. Joan of Arc is recognized as a patron saint in France. Her life was filled with purity and obedience. Ann Trompert accurately portrays the saint in all of the doubts and acts of faith that her mission required. I found it to be an outstanding retelling of the remarkable life of St. Joan of Arc. I hope you get the opportunity to read this fine title.
