MEMORIAL OF SAINT JOAN OF ARC, VIRGIN AND SAINT DYMPHNA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR ~ FEAST DAY: MAY 30TH Today, we celebrate the Memorial of Saint Joan of Arc, Virgin and Saint Dymphna, Virgin and Martyr. Through the intercession of our Blessed Mother Mary and the Saints on this feast day, we humbly pray for the safety and well-being of all those in the military, for captives and those in prison. We pray for justice, peace, love and unity in our families and our world. We also pray for the sick and dying especially those suffering from cancer and and those with mental illness. We pray for the poor and the needy and we continue to pray for the Church, the Clergy, for persecuted Christians, for the conversion of sinners, and Christians all over the world.🙏🏽
SAINT JOAN OF ARC, VIRGIN: St. Joan of Arc (1412-1431), nicknamed “The Maid of Orléans; La Pucelle,” was born in 1412, at the obscure village of Domrémy-la-Pucelle, France, near the province of Lorraine during the Hundred Years War between France and England. St. Joan was a daughter of poor pious tenant farmers Jacques d’ Arc and his wife, Isabelle Romée. St. Joan learned piety and domestic skills from her mother. Never venturing far from home, St. Joan took care of the animals and became quite skilled as a seamstress. She was a pious child, and from age 13 she received visions of saints, most notably St. Michael the Archangel, St. Margaret of Antioch, and St. Catherine of Alexandria, who became her special Patrons. Through these visions, voices, and other interior promptings, St. Joan understood that she was to go help the King of France regain his throne and reconquer his kingdom from the invading forces of England and Burgundy. In 1428, she traveled to Vaucouleurs and requested to be taken to Charles. Her request to see the king was rejected twice, but she was finally given an escort to meet Charles at Chinon. After their interview, overcoming her own reluctance, and oppositions and convincing members of the court, the military and the Church ecclesiastical authorities, Charles sent St. Joan to the siege of Orléans as part of a relief army, she was given a small army. She arrived at the city on April 29, 1429, and quickly gained prominence during the fighting. She heroically led the French army in battle. She charged into battle bearing a banner which bore the names “Jesus” and “Mary” as well as a symbol of the Holy Spirit. A national heroine of France, at age 17 Joan of Arc led the French army to victory over the English at Orléans. Due to her leadership and trust in God, she was able to raise the siege of Orleans on May 8, 1429. St. Joan and her army went on to win a series of battles, they fought to drive the English out of France and recaptured Orleans and Troyes. Because of her efforts, the king was able to enter Rheims, which allowed Charles VII to be restored to the throne of France, as the French king. He was crowned with St. Joan at his side. All the while she wore the dress of a soldier to protect her virtue and modesty.
The following year, as St. Joan was attempting to relieve Compiegne, she was eventually captured by the forces of Burgundy in May of 1430. When her own king and army did nothing to save her, she was sold to the English. She was imprisoned for a time and then placed on trial under accusation of heresy and witchcraft. Bishop Peter Cauchon of Beauvais presided over her trial. His hope was that in being harsh with St. Joan, the English would help him become archbishop. She was treated unjustly and illegally during her captivity, and her trial became a circus. On May 29, 1431, the tribunal announced St. Joan of Arc was guilty of heresy. On the morning of May 30th, under political pressure she was condemned to death on counts of heresy, witchcraft, and adultery, even though she proved herself to be blameless and fearless in character and faith. She was taken to the marketplace in Rouen, France and burned alive at the stake, before an estimated crowd of 10,000 people. As she burned she kept her eyes on a crucifix and repeatedly called on the name of Jesus. She was 19 years old when she died on May 30, 1431. One legend surrounding the event tells of how her heart survived the fire unaffected. Her ashes were gathered and scattered in the Seine. A second Church trial twenty-five years later nullified the earlier verdict and found her innocent of all charges, paving the way for her veneration as a saint. St. Joan of Arc was Beatified on April 18, 1909, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome by Pope Pius X and Canonized as a Roman Catholic saint more than 500 years after her death, on May 16, 1920, Saint Peter’s Basilica, Rome by Pope Benedict XV. In 1456, twenty five years after her death, Pope Callixtus III authorized an inquisitorial court to investigate the original trial. The court nullified the trial’s verdict, declaring it was tainted by deceit and procedural errors, and Joan was exonerated. Since her death, Joan has been popularly revered as a martyr. After the French Revolution she became a national symbol of France. St. Joan was declared a secondary patron saint of France in 1922. She is the Patron Saint of France; martyrs; captives; rape victims; military personnel; people ridiculed for their piety; prisoners; soldiers; women who have served in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service); and Women’s Army Corps. Her feast day is May 30th.
QUOTES OF ST. JOAN OF ARC, VIRGIN
☆“About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know, that they are just one thing
and we shouldn’t complicate the matter.”
☆“If I be not in a state of grace, I pray God place me in it, if I be in it, I pray God keep me so.”
PRAYER: God, You chose St. Joan, Your virgin, to defend her country against its invader. Through her intercession enable us to work for justice and to live in peace… Amen🙏🏽
Saint Joan of Arc, Virgin ~ Pray for us🙏🏽
SAINT DYMPHNA, VIRGIN AND MARTYR: St. Dymphna was born in the 7th or 9th century. Her father, Damon, an Irish chieftain of great wealth and power, was a pagan. Her mother was a very beautiful and devout Christian. St. Dymphna was raised as a Christian, and she consecrated her virginity to Christ at a young age. St. Dymphna was fourteen when her mother died. St. Dymphna’s father loved his wife deeply. When her mother died, Dymphna’s father was so overcome with grief that he became mentally unstable. He sent messengers throughout his own and other lands to find some woman of noble birth, resembling his wife, who would be willing to marry him. When none could be found with equal character and beauty to his first wife, his evil advisere told him to marry his own daughter. He attempted to marry Dymphna due to her close resemblance to her mother. Upon learning of her father’s wicked plan and incestuous interest, Dymphna fled across the sea into Belgium along with her tutor and confessor, Father Gerebernus and two companions. They then built an oratory at Gheel where they lived as hermits. Her father pursued them and eventually discovered their location by tracing the foreign money they used along the way. St. Dymphna’s father search led to Belgium. There an innkeeper refused to accept his money, knowing it was difficult to exchange. This told Damon that his daughter was close – it would be unusual for a village innkeeper to know a lot about foreign currency, and his knowledge indicated that had recently seen it. The king concentrated his search in the area. Tracked down by Dymphna’s father, he found them in Gheel, the two companions and the priest, Fr. Gerebernus were murdered by his men, and Dymphna was beheaded by her father when she refused his plea to return with him to Ireland to be his wife. He cut off her head in a mad rage. She was then only fifteen years of age. St. Dymphna received the crown of martyrdom in defense of her purity.
Many miracles have taken place at her shrine, the Church built on the spot where she was buried in Gheel, Belgium, near Antwerp. There have been numerous accounts of those afflicted with epilepsy and mental illness visiting her tomb and receiving miraculous cures through her intercession. Because of this, St. Dympha is the Patron Saint of those suffering from nervous and mental affections; neurological disorders and illnesses, as well as of mental health professionals; against sleepwalking; against epilepsy; against insanity; family happiness; incest victims; loss of parents; martyrs; mental asylums; mental health caregivers; mental hospitals; mentally ill people; nervous disorders; possessed people; princesses; psychiatrists; rape victims; runaways; sleepwalkers; therapists. There is now a well-known institution on the site, and her relics are reported to cure insanity and epilepsy.
PRAYER IN HONOR OF ST. DYMPHNA: Lord Jesus Christ, You have willed that St. Dymphna should be invoked by thousands of clients as the patroness of nervous and mental disease and have brought it about that her interest in these patients should be an inspiration to and an ideal of charity throughout the world. Grant that, through the prayers of this youthful martyr of purity, those who suffer from nervous and mental illness everywhere on earth may be helped and consoled. I recommend to You in particular, (name). Be pleased to hear the prayer of St. Dymphna and of your Blessed Mother. Give those whom I recommend the patience to bear their affliction and resignation to do Your divine will. Give them the consolation they need and especially the cure they so much desire, if it be Your will. Through Christ, our Lord… Amen🙏🏽
PRAYER: Hear us, O God, our Savior, as we honor St. Dymphna, Patroness of those afflicted with mental and emotional illness. Help us to be inspired by her example and comforted by her merciful help. Amen🙏🏽