Today I want to talk about a story that is near and dear to my heart. The story of the Maid or Orleans, Joan of Arc. Her story shows us how one person, in response to God’s call can change the world.
When I was young I saw Joan of Arc on TV (with Ingrid Bergman – 1948; later I saw Leelie Sobieski in the same roll 2001; and one of my favorite actresses Mila Jovovich as The Messenger.) In this story a teenage girl believed she was visited by a Divine visitation and called upon to save France from British domination. For an uneducated teen in the later Middle Ages to come forward (there was also a prophecy of a Maid from Orleans saving France that she seemed to be unaware of,) impress herself on the nobility of the time, and lead the armies of France to break the hold of the British on the Kingdom of France makes me think she really was answering God’s call.
There are many stories of miracles surrounding her story. As expected, scholars who weren’t there, doubt anything that does not match their experience. But in my life, I have experienced miracles and many of the ones surrounding Joan of Arc have the ring of truth. At least in my own experience and study of Divine revelation and experience and relationship with the Divine. I also think the results speak for themselves.
God has a long history of using the weak and the outcast to humble the mighty.
The mighty have a long history of killing (martyring) God’s messengers. Note, they don’t stop God’s plan but they still respond petulantly and violently to being humbled. Some may think that death is a severe price to pay but taken on its whole it is not really. You see, we all will die. However, most of us will not die for a cause that changes history, and the promise of eternal reward in heaven for a death that we all must suffer – whether we serve God or not – is not that high of a price to pay. IMHO. One thing that is true for all of us is that none of us will get out of this life alive. However, it is sad when people die without ever having truly lived.
I think Joan of Arc truly lived a full life – even if it was crammed into a few years. She died at the age of 19 but we still talk about her almost a thousand years later. And, as one of my pastors used to say whenever someone did a good deed, “There is another star for your Crown of Righteousness.” (Perhaps I will talk about the verse that comment comes from some day.)
That is what happened to Saint Joan of Arc. The elite she humbled responded violently and viciously to being humbled. The British captured her and tried her for witchcraft, and if you read accounts of the trial, it seems that these “scholars” of the church at her trial were unable to trick this ignorant girl into incriminating herself. Nevertheless, she was ultimately burned as a relapsed heretic and was accused by the British at the time of being a witch. Later, the Pope declared her a Saint (and being declared a Saint is never something that is done on a whim – despite some popular opinions to the contrary – there is a long detailed process of verification before anyone is declared a Saint.) Anyone who has studied the lives of the Saints will find that nearly all of them are paragons of faith and virtue and we could do worse than to use them as examples for our own lives.
The movies are interesting, and the biographies vary in their quality, but I like studying how things actually were compared to movie presentations. I enjoy movies for their own sake as entertainment even though they all are subject to errors and interpretation.
One thing I have turned to many times in my life is the Prayer of Saint Joan. It reminds me that even when I face trials they are nothing compared to what she faced and yet she remained true to her Divine call and Mission. A mission we all have if we but find it, and that will probably not demand as much from us as it did from the Maid of Orleans.
St. Joan of Arc – In the face of your enemies, in the face of harassment, ridicule, and doubt, you held firm in your faith. Even in your abandonment, alone and without friends, you held firm in your faith. Even as you faced your own mortality, you held firm in your faith. I pray that I may be as bold in my faith as you, St. Joan. I ask that you ride alongside me in my own battles. Help me be mindful that what is worthwhile can be won when I persist. Help me believe in my ability to act well and wisely, Amen.
PraYER TO SAINT JOAN OF ARC
It reminds me of another one who spoke of holding true to a cause, although he was not a Saint, by any means:
18 Responses
ダッチワイフThank you for sharing such original and insightful content.Your work has not only enriched my understanding but also inspired me to think more creatively about [specific topic].
Narcissists themselves often seek out praise,ラブドール エロand they often use praise to manipulate and control others.
I’d like to find out more? I’d love to find out some additional information.ラブドール えろ
ラブドール 女性 用We can start by looking for places where we have strong or intense reactions.The feelings around old trauma can be triggered by anything from our partner’s tone to a baby’s cry.
Sorrow: It’s natural to miss your child,大型 オナホ おすすめeven when you realize they need to live their own life.
リアル ドールin the United States,we sometimes deem folks whose sense of social withdrawal and difficulty with self-actualization keeps them from leaving their parents’ home a failure to launch.
Yes, my son remains at home, in part because I am disabled. I told him that everyone I know who moved out fell on their face…that he needed to learn fiscal responsibility and independence. I am pleased with how he thinks critically and I home schooled him for the last of High School. We set it up so he rents his room and a third of the house (a three bedroom house he has one of them,) a third of the food, and a third of the utilities. He as a full-time job working for Marriott. I like his company when he shares his life in the houses common areas but this “failure to launch” is a concern and should be concern for all parents. In the end; we need to teach our children to survive without us. If they cannot do so then we have failed as a parent. It seems to me a lot of parenting in the modern world has failed to accomplish its responsibility. Just as the public education system has failed our kids as well. But parents should have NEVER relied on the schools to raise their kids for them. I have friends who said, “We didn’t want to brainwash our kids with our values.” The result? The society has brainwashed them with its confused values and, because you didn’t teach them your family values they have nothing else. My older sone (in their 40s) often ask if my younger son (who is 23) has seen this or that movie. We have “Family Movies” that communicate our values and the way we watch movies is that anyone can raise their hand and the movie is paused, we can discuss the what or why of what happened or whether it was historical or not, then move on. For me they were always educational. Some of the important “family movies” my older sons thought were important were “Heartbreak Ridge,” “Longest Day,” “In Harm’s Way,” “Midway,” “the Alamo,” “Zulu,” “Ten Commandments,” “A Princess Bride,” “The Shoes of the Fisherman,” and many others. Each of these had important lessons about values that my father taught me and that I passed down to my kids. My father and I spent Saturday afternoons, cleaning the rabbit hutches, gardening, then on Sunday the Sabbath we went to church had family dinner and watched movies…unless we were at the lake.
This post has certainly made a positive impact on my work.ラブドールYour unique perspective on [topic] is both refreshing and thought-provoking.
I believe this is one of the so much important information for me.
And i’m satisfied reading your article. But wanna remark on few
normal issues, The site taste is perfect, the articles is in reality excellent : D.
Excellent process, cheers
Thank you, I am curious as to what anime characters you favor. I know Harlock Space Pirate is not traditional Anime but I like the characters there (story is better in Japanese w/subtitles I don’t like how they changed it for the Anglo culture it loses the Japanese Martial Culture reference that I esteem, in the English version. Thanks again for taking the time to walk with me for a moment.
ラブドール オナニーby this suddenconversion or change is not their daily life likely to be upset; and onthe other hand will not many of their old prejudices and narrownessesstill adhere to them long after they have begun to take a morecomprehensive view of human things? From familiar examples like thesewe may learn what Plato meant by the eyesight which is liable to twokinds of disorders.Nor have we any difficulty in drawing a parallel between the youngAthenian in the fifth century before Christ who became unsettled by newideas,
In my experience change means we are still alive. However, even in death our bodies decompose, so change is always with us.
I mentioned independence as a positive of living alone,but along with that comes more responsibility than if you were living with someone else.大型 オナホ おすすめ
Paul says the same thing. He seems to have never married. But in Ecclesiastes it says, “two are better than one for when one tumbles the other can help them up; the three cord strand is not easily broken.” I wrote an article on this topic on here or on SabersEdge.Online in the series “What Your Father Should Have Taught You.” I will try to find it and post a link here.
ドール sexa trifle better than when you came into it.And people with alittle money can do either of these things as well as richer people.
Great work! That is the kind of information that should be shared across the web.
Shame on Google for now not positioning this submit higher!
Thanks a bunch for sharing this with all folks you actually know what you’re speaking approximately!
Bookmarked.
Extremely useful info specially the last part 🙂 I maintain such
info a lot. I used to be looking for this particular information for
a long time. Thanks and good luck.
Can I simply just say what a relief to find someone
who genuinely knows what they are discussing on the net.
You actually realize how to bring a problem to light
and make it important. More and more people should look at
this and understand this side of your story. I was surprised that you’re not more popular because
you definitely have the gift.
I discovered your weblog using msn. That is a really well written article.
I will be sure to bookmark it and return to read more of your helpful info.
Thank you for the post. I’ll definitely comeback.
What’s Taking place i’m new to this, I stumbled upon this I’ve found It absolutely useful and it has aided me out loads.
I’m hoping to contribute & help different people like its helped me. Good job.
Этот информативный текст выделяется своими захватывающими аспектами, которые делают сложные темы доступными и понятными. Мы стремимся предложить читателям глубину знаний вместе с разнообразием интересных фактов. Откройте новые горизонты и развивайте свои способности познавать мир!
This informative text stands out for its fascinating aspects that make complex topics accessible and understandable. We strive to offer readers a depth of knowledge along with a variety of interesting facts. Discover new horizons and develop your abilities to explore the world!