Saint Joan of Arc - the victory

Saint Joan of Arc - the victory O Lord God of Hosts, who hast said in Thy Gospel: “I am not come to bring peace but a sword,“ arm me for the combat. I burn to do battle for Thy Glory, but I pray Thee to enliven my courage. . . . Then with holy David I shall be able to exclaim: “Thou alone art my shield; it is Thou, O Lord Who teachest my hands to fight.“ O my Beloved, I know the warfare in which I am to engage; it is not on the open field I shall fight. . . . I am a prisoner held captive by Thy Love; of my own free will I have riveted the fetters which bind me to Thee, and cut me off for ever from the world. My sword is Love! with it--like Joan of Arc--“I will drive the strangers from the land, and I will have Thee proclaimed King“--over the Kingdom of souls. Of a truth Thou hast no need of so weak an instrument as I, but Joan, thy chaste and valiant Spouse, has said: “We must do battle before God gives the victory.“ O my Jesus! I w