St. Joan of Arc is the patroness of soldiers and of France. On January 6, 1412, Joan of Arc was born to pious parents of the French peasant class, at the obscure village of Domremy, near the province of Lorraine. At a very early age, she heard voices: those of St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret.
At first the messages were personal and general. Then at last came the crowning order. In May, 1428, her voices “of St. Michael, St. Catherine, and St. Margaret” told Joan to go to the King of France and help him reconquer his kingdom. For at that time the English king was after the throne of France, and the Duke of Burgundy, the chief rival of the French king, was siding with him and gobbling up evermore French territory.
After overcoming opposition from churchmen and courtiers, the seventeen year old girl was given a small army with which she raised the seige of Orleans on May 8, 1429. She then enjoyed a series of spectacular military successes, during which the King was able to enter Rheims and be crowned with her at his side.
In May 1430, as she was attempting to relieve Compiegne, she was captured by the Burgundians and sold to the English when Charles and the French did nothing to save her. After months of imprisonment, she was tried at Rouen by a tribunal presided over by the infamous Peter Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais, who hoped that the English would help him to become archbishop.
Through her unfamiliarity with the technicalities of theology, Joan was trapped into making a few damaging statements. When she refused to retract the assertion that it was the saints of God who had commanded her to do what she had done, she was condemned to death as a heretic, sorceress, and adulteress, and burned at the stake on May 30, 1431. She was nineteen years old. Some thirty years later, she was exonerated of all guilt and she was ultimately canonized in 1920, making official what the people had known for centuries. Her feast day is May 30.
St. Joan was canonized in 1920 by Pope Benedict XV.
Saint Raphael the Archangel appeared in human disguise under the name of Azarias (‘Yahweh helps’ or ‘God who Heals’), accompanied Tobias along his journey and ultimately conquered the demon Asmodeus. Raphael is a crucial figure in the Book of Tobit, as accepted canon by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, etc.
I pray this day, for Joan of Arc to lead the charge in Washington D.C. at noon for the Rosary March to defend truth in the electoral process. For Saint Raphael the Archangel to heal and accompany courageous brave prayer warriors and shield them from harm, especially women and children, who are there to defend traditional matrimony and families. Let Saint Michael the Archangel lead the men into peace through strength positions of solidarity with Saint Gabriel the Archangel calling the orders. Saint Joan of Arc, you were fearless but solitary leading a pack of French cowards to follow you in your fight against the English who tried to steal your country. You were betrayed by your own disloyal Judas and paid the ultimate price with your life. Help the Faithful and all angels and saints who stand against evil, which uses the tools of delay and distraction and distortion and dissent and deceipt to numb the vulnerable into complacency. Wake them up, lead them to blazing success that brings miraculous results. Through Our Lord Jesus Christ and His Blessed Mother. God the Father Almighty, accept this show of cooperation with grace, as at Laponto, and deliver triumph to the Holy Spirit inspired crowd. Amen.
All holy men and women, martyrs, saints, angels, pray for us. Let Truth be honoured and Light be cast into every shadow. Holy Family of Nazareth, restore matrimony and family life. Transform all of mankind’s iniquity into integrity.
Ecce Crucem Domini!
Fugite partes adversae!
Vicit Leo de tribu Juda,
Radix David! Alleluia!
Saint Anthony of Padua, pray for us. For Italy.
Saint Teresa of Avila, pray for us. For Rome.
Blood of Christ Crucified, cleanse the Vatican.
Amen.