This May 16th marks when Jeanne D’Arc (Joan of Arc) was canonized by the Catholic Church. Ironic since they were the ones who burned her a the stake. Joan has acquired mythical status, a symbol of France, she is responsible for rallying French Troops to take back territories lost in the Hundred Year’s war. But more fascinating than her historical impact is here spiritual life. It is well known she received visions, prophecies, and messages from Christ and saints. She had more in common with Charismatic Christians than Roman Catholics because she believed she could have direct correspondence with God , “Her beliefs were not strictly orthodox, according to the criteria for orthodoxy laid down by many theologians of the period. She was no friend of the church militant on earth (which perceived itself as in spiritual combat with the forces of evil), and she threatened its hierarchy through her claim that she communicated directly with God by means of visions or voices.” (Capture, Trial and Execution, Encloypedia Britannica). This is the belief we Protestants have, that we may directly communicate with the Holy Trinity without a priest or pastor, that we have one mediator, “For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus” (1 Timothy 2:5), His sheep hear his voice, “My sheep hear my voice, and I know them, and they follow me. I give them eternal life, and they will never perish, and no one will snatch them out of my hand,”(John 10:27-28), and can enter the holiest place by the Blood, “And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven’s Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus” (Hebrews 10:19). In fact, The Moravian Brethern asserted this same claim of Joan’s:
Joan visions and foretelling of the future align with Scripture, which is why she was no doubt under scrutiny, “But to each one is given the manifestation of the Spirit [the spiritual illumination and the enabling of the Holy Spirit] for the common good. To one is given through the [Holy] Spirit [the power to speak] the message of wisdom, and to another [the power to express] the word of knowledge and understanding according to the same Spirit; to another [wonder-working] faith [is given] by the same [Holy] Spirit, and to another the [extraordinary] gifts of healings by the one Spirit; and to another the working of miracles, and to another prophecy [foretelling the future, speaking a new message from God to the people], and to another discernment of spirits [the ability to distinguish sound, godly doctrine from the deceptive doctrine of man-made religions and cults], to another various kinds of [unknown] tongues, and to another interpretation of tongues. All these things [the gifts, the achievements, the abilities, the empowering] are brought about by one and the same [Holy] Spirit, distributing to each one individually just as He chooses,” (1 Corinthians 12:7-11 AMP) and “'In the last days, God says, I will pour out my Spirit on all people. Your sons and daughters will prophesy, your young men will see visions, your old men will dream dreams” (Acts 2:17). Joan was called “The Maid of Orlean,” or “Holy Maid,” and the Lord declared Maids would prophecy, “Even on My menservants and maidservants I will pour out My Spirit in those days, and they will prophesy” (Acts 2:18). She was fulfilling Scripture, and predictably like the Pharisees that had our Lord Jesus crucified, she was burned by Roman Pharisees (Bishops).
Jeanne D’Arc was proto-reformer, she even confessed that she had certainty of salvation in Christ, “in particular, that she claimed for her pronouncements the authority of divine revelation; prophesied the future; endorsed her letters with the names of Jesus and Mary, thereby identifying herself with the novel and suspect cult of the Name of Jesus; professed to be assured of salvation; and wore men’s clothing. Perhaps the most serious charge was of preferring what she believed to be the direct commands of God to those of the church.” (The Trial, Enclyopedia Britannica). These claims of Joan are supported by Scripture, that we know we are saved, “If you declare with your mouth, “Jesus is Lord,” and believe in your heart that God raised him from the dead, you will be saved. For it is with your heart that you believe and are justified, and it is with your mouth that you profess your faith and are saved,” (Romans 10:9-10), and “Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.” (Romans 12:2).
The Maid of Orleans was a reformer like John Wycliffe, Peter Waldo, and others who had reformed beliefs such as faith in Christ is sufficent to save. She remained part of the Romanite Church, and attended masses, but in her defense it would be 86 years later till Luther and the Reformation finally took hold of Europe. The point is she actually had the charismata prior to its return with the Moravian Brethren in 1547’s and in 1970’s Jesus Movement. Perhaps even the Charismatic Catholic Renewal had its origin with her.
For us as Protestants Joan is an inspiration. She was persecuted for her reformed beliefs and at the age of sixteen was burned because of her radical yet Biblical assertions that she heard from Christ directly, and believed she was assured of salvation (Romans 10:9-10). For these reasons she died. 86 years later her beliefs would take shape in a movement that would sweep Europe, The Protestant Reformation. Amen.
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