St. Joan of Arc, the Maid of Orleans
The year is 1429. For nearly a century, English and French kings have been at war. Charles VII, the French heir, is discouraged and has all but conceded, abandoning the small French resistance holding out in the city of Orleans.
But a 17-year-old peasant girl, Joan the Maid, has talked her way into an audience with Charles. She has persuaded the prince that she has supernatural insight, and that God wants the French to fight on. Charles rouses himself from torpor, allowing Joan to lead the French army. She breaks the siege at Orleans! France is saved!
Alas, within two years, Joan is betrayed, and sold to the English. She is accused of witchcraft. Good, authentic historical records exist from her trial. You can read some of the details here, but suffice it to say that her dialogue with the English is a profound testimony of bravery, love for Christ and his Church, and trust in divine providence.
The English burned her at the stake in 1431. In 1456, a Church court investigated her trial, found that the trial was corrupt, and declared her innocence. Ever since, she has been revered as a martyr. Pope Benedict XV canonized her in 1920.
And, next weekend, you can see the Martin Saints Drama Club perform a dramatization of her life, in The Maid Of Orleans. Performances will be on Friday the 26th and Saturday the 27th, both times at 7pm, on our new campus at St. Titus parish in East Norriton.
Tickets are available online.
Featuring original music composed by junior Shannon Shipp and music teacher Brett Cuddy. Sets painted by sophomore Delaney Stryd. Fighting with swords, handmade by physics teacher Blair Tiger, his son, and Miss Lindmeier's dad. Senior Abby Dickerson, one of the founders of the MSC drama club four years ago and in her final MSC performance, will star as Joan. The play itself was co-authored by Adrian Ahlquist, co-founder of the Chesterton Schools Network.
You know you need to see this!
If you've ever driven south into Philadelphia along Kelly Drive, with the Schuylkill river on your right, after you pass the boat houses and as you pass the Art Museum, you can't help but notice a brilliant gold statue on your left. That's Joan of Arc, clad in a carefully researched replica of fifteen-century French armor.
Why was this young woman so fascinating? What is the story of her mystery?
See you next weekend for a night at the Martin Saints theatre!
Saint Joan of Arc, across the street from the Philadelphia Museum of Art. Photo by Alex Rogers, copyright 2019, for the Association of Public Art.
