Jeanne D'Arc, St. (St. Joan of Arc) (ca. 1412-1431)
Joan of Arc was a French visionary; also known as the Maid of Orléans. Joan was born Jeanette, with the surname Arc or Romée on January 15, 1412. She was deeply religious but had no formal schooling. At or about age 13 she began to experience "auditory hallucinations." In other words, she heard voices when no visible person was present. Soon she began to have visions, too. She saw St. Michael, St. Catharine, and St. Margaret and was given instructions as to her mission. She eventually made her way to the dauphin, put herself at the head of 6,000 men, and advanced to Orleans, which was surrounded by the English. After a fortnight of hard fighting the enemy was driven off. The tide of war turned, and in three months the dauphin was crowned king at Rheims as Charles VII. Joan took part in further fighting against the allied English forces, showing great bravery and skill. In November 1430, however, she fell into the enemy's hands and was sold to the English and thrown into a dungeon at their headquarters in Rouen. After a year of imprisonment she was brought to trial. The charges were heresy and sorcery (witchcraft). She was condemned to the stake. To the end she solemnly affirmed the reality of her "voices" and the truth of her depositions. Her last word, as the smoke and flame rolled round her, was "Jesus."