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Saint Joan of Arc, nicknamed “The Maid of Orléans“, was a peasant girl who became the heroine of France for her role during the Hundred Years' War. Joan was a very devout Catholic girl, an endorser of the crusades and a warrior saint, who was immensely intolerant of heresy. Growing up, Joan experienced her first signs from God in 1425 at the age of 13, when she was in her father's garden and saw visions of Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, who told her to drive English out of France. Joan said she cried when the saints left, as they were so beautiful and clear to her eyes. Later in life, not only did Joan become a brilliant army leader and morale booster, Joan also foresaw many crucial events through divine knowledge, for example when she made a prediction about a military reversal at the Battle of Rouvray near Orléans several days before messengers arrived to report it. Joan of Arc became a legendary heroine, and a divine morale booster for France, not only during her life but also after her death. Not many people in history has been talked about more than Joan of Arc, both by religious clerics and secular historians. As historian Kelly DeVries also declares; “No person of the Middle Ages, male or female, has been the subject of more study“. Joan was canonised a saint by Pope Benedict XV in 1920. ________________________________________________________ French Lyrics: Jeanne, Seigneur, est ton oeuvre splendide. Un coeur de feu, une âme de guerrier, Tu les donnas à la vierge timide, La couronnant de lis et de laurier. Sainte Jeanne de France, Notre espérance Repose en vous, Sainte Jeanne de France, Priez, priez pour nous ! Jeanne entendit, dans son humble prairie, Des voix du ciel l'appeler aux combats ; Elle partit pour sauver la patrie La douce Enfant à l'armée commanda. Sainte Jeanne de France, Notre espérance Repose en vous, Sainte Jeanne de France, Priez, priez pour nous ! Des fiers guerriers, Jeanne gagna les âmes L'éclat divin de cet ange des cieux, Son pur regard, ses paroles de flammes, Surent courber les fronts audacieux Sainte Jeanne de France, Notre espérance Repose en vous, Sainte Jeanne de France, Priez, priez pour nous ! Jeanne c'est toi notre unique espérance; Du haut des Cieux, daigne entendre nos voix; Descends vers nous, Viens convertir la France, Viens la sauver une seconde fois ! Sainte Jeanne de France, Notre espérance Repose en vous, Sainte Jeanne de France, Priez, priez pour nous ! ________________________________________________________ English Lyrics: Joan, o Lord, is your work splendid A heart of fire, a warrior's soul You gave them to the shy Virgin Whom you wanted to crown with laurel. (Chorus) Saint Joan of France Our hope rests in you Saint Joan of France Pray, pray for us. Joan heard in her humble meadow Voices from Heaven call her to battle She left to save the homeland The sweet Child the army commanded. Of proud warriors she won the souls The divine radiance of the Envoy of Heaven Her pure gaze, her words of flame Were able to make bold brows give way. Joan, you are our only hope From Heaven up high, deign hear our voices Come down to us, come and convert France Come save it a second time.
