On St. Joan of Arc
Pope Benedict XV’s Papal Bull Divina Disponente, 16th May 1920.
By disposition of divine clemency, after a long period of time, while the terrible war produced so many evils, those miracles offered a new sign of the justice and mercy of God which, worked through the intercession of the Maid of Orleans, definitively sanctioned their innocence, faith, holiness and obedience to the will of God, to observe which he endured everything up to a cruel and unjust death. It is therefore very opportune that Joan of Arc be inscribed today in the number of Saints, so that, from her example, all Christians may learn that obedience to the will of God is holy and devout, and obtain from her the grace to convert their fellow citizens to obtain heavenly life. On February 6 of the year 1412 from the Redemption, Joan was born in the town of Domrémy in Lorraine, by Giacomo d’Arc and Isabella Romé, pious and faithful Catholic peasants. From her early youth, through the care of her mother, pious and upright, fearing God, she was sufficiently instructed in the faith, completely dedicated to a simple and serene life. When he was in his father’s house, he helped his family with the work of his hands: he used to spin linen and wool, and sometimes he went with his father to plow and look after the cattle. And not only did he punctually fulfill his duty towards his family, but also what concerned religion and devotion, so much so that he attracted the admiration of all and the parish priest of the town could say that he had never seen or had in his parish , a better than her. Joan always used to receive the divine sacraments very often, observe the prescribed fasts, always attend church, participate every day in the sacrosanct sacrifice of the Mass, recite fervent prayers in front of the images of Jesus hanging from the cross and of the Blessed Virgin. On feast days, while the other girls were taking rest and giving themselves to dances, she went to church, carrying candles, which she offered to the Blessed Virgin and, out of singular devotion to her, undertook pilgrimages to the solitary church of the Blessed Virgin Mary of Bermont. She was also transported by such a great love for God and for the worship due to Him, that in the evening, even when she was in the countryside, as soon as she heard the church bell, her knees bent, she raised her mind to God.
He distinguished himself for his love for his neighbor. In fact, she refreshed the sick and gladly gave alms, housed the poor, to whom she willingly gave up her bed, sleeping herself on the ground. God filled such marvelous virtues with glory and honor in a girl of about 12, and to her he began to reveal his purposes with some heavenly visions, as it is certain that, for his infinite wisdom, he had often acted with others. holy virgins. Joan, at the age of 13, in her father’s garden, next to the church, at noon, heard a voice and saw a great splendor. She was then seized with fear, but when she heard it for the third time, she understood that it was the voice of the Angel of God. In these first apparitions, the Angel did not explain the divine mission to Joan, but only persuaded her to cultivate devotion and attending church: so Joan, taken by the joy of heavenly things, consecrated her virginity to God. Finally the Archangel Michael revealed himself to her and commanded her to go to the King to help him, without any fear, after leaving her father’s house, because Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret would support him. The humble girl replied that she was a poor daughter, completely incapable of riding and of warlike things; but such was her faith and obedience that, leaving her family, she went to the village of Bureyle-petit, to her paternal uncle Durando Laocardo, asking him to take her to Vaucouleurs, to Duke Robert of Baudricourt, whom she wanted to tell him to go to France to meet to the Dauphin, to be crowned. Full of admiration, his uncle agreed and, on May 13, 1428, took Joan to Vanucouleurs to speak with the Duke of Baudricourt. But he did not believe the girl’s words, on the contrary he told her uncle to bring her back to her father and give her a slap. Joan returned to her paternal house and devoted herself to the works of the past, nevertheless having firm confidence that she would soon go to the King. he had Joan entrusted by his parents, on the pretext of helping his wife, but instead he returned again to Vaucouleurs and entrusted Joan to the pious family Le Royer.
Meanwhile Joan was speaking openly about her mission, saying that she had to go to the Dauphin, because her Lord, King of Heaven, wanted to do so. Duke Robert of Baudricourt, wishing to test the spirit of Joan, who had finally been brought before him, ordered the parish priest to make her swear; which she did, but later regretted this oath. Roberto perhaps still doubted, but he had to give in to the enthusiasm of the citizens. Joan, having obtained pardon from her parents, to whom she said she had to obey the divine will, on 13 February 1429, wearing men’s clothes and mounted on horseback, began the journey to go to the King together with some knights, to whom the Duke Robert himself had entrusted to Joan. After eleven days, among many difficulties, with the fear of the English and the Burgundians, he arrived in a prodigious way to the city of Chinon, near the King, and there he had to face other not slight obstacles. In fact, some advisers of the King said that no trust should be given to her, but, a few days later, when the King learned from the Duke Robert that Joan had crossed many rivers, in a prodigious way, among the enemies, in order to be led by he finally granted an audience to the girl. Joan, when the King had distanced himself a little from the sight of the others, showed him reverence and revealed to him the heavenly mission entrusted to her by the King of Heaven, stating that he would be consecrated and crowned in the city of Reims, and that he was destined to do in the place of the King of Heaven, who is the King of France. After many questions, the King told those present that Joan had revealed to him some secrets, known only to God, for which he had great faith in her. But, in such an important matter, he wanted to ask some clergymen for advice and sent the Maid to Poitiers, to be examined by the distinguished doctors of the University. After three weeks, the doctors reported to the King that they had found nothing in Joan hat was contrary to the Catholic faith, and the King ordered that the Maid have men assigned to her and, as almsgiver, Fra ‘Giovanni Pasquerel, of the Order of Eremitani di Sant’Agostino, who then always followed her.
A horse and weapons were given to her, but Joan preferred the old sword, adorned with five crosses, which she had indicated to be in the temple of Saint Catherine of Fierbois, as it was actually found; instead he wanted a banner with the image of the Redeemer, which he always carried with him. When asked why she carried the banner, she replied that she did not want to use her sword or kill anyone. Towards the end of April of that year, he went to the city of Blois, where an army of about 12,000 soldiers had been assembled, which had prepared supplies for the city of Orleans, besieged by the English. Joan’s first concern was that good morals be preserved in the army, so she commanded that women of ill repute be removed and severely reproached blasphemers. Then he wanted another banner with the image of Christ to gather the priests, because the aforementioned almsgiver had arranged for them to sing the antiphons and hymns of the Blessed Virgin Mary together with Joan every day, morning and evening. And, before proceeding to the city of Orleans, he commanded that all the priests, armed, gather under that banner.
The Maid wanted to confirm her mission with a sign of peace and for this purpose she sent a letter to Talbot, supreme commander of the English army, in which she said that, if the English had not suspended the siege and had not returned to their kingdom , would have attacked them in such a way as to force them to withdraw completely. But the English, in response, covered the Maid with insults, which she endured with an invincible spirit. But the facts confirmed the prediction; in fact, as appears from the historical documents, known to all, Joan, by divine order, freed the city of Orleans from the English siege with an admirable action that was completely superior to human forces. Then everyone recognized that the Maid had been sent by God and the citizens of Orleans said that if Joan had not come to their aid from God, the city would have come under the dominion and power of the adversaries who were besieging it. Having entered Orleans to the great joy of all the citizens, she was welcomed and greeted as the Angel of God. But Joan, first of all, went to the cathedral, to offer to God her creator the senses of gratitude and due reverence, and she exhorted everyone to hope completely in the Lord.
After particular actions carried out by the Maid in Orleans and other glorious episodes that followed against the English in castles and in various cities, after so many victories, the princes of royal lineage and the Dukes wanted the King to leave not for Reims, but for Normandy; but Joan on the contrary, was always of the opinion that it was necessary to go to Reims, for the King to be crowned and consecrated there, and thus the power of the enemies would be diminished forever. Eventually everyone was of his opinion and the King went to the city of Reims, where he found full obedience and in the old church of the city he was, with solemn ceremonies, anointed with holy oil and crowned with the royal crown. The Maid, when she saw the consecrated King, knelt in front of him and shed abundant tears because God’s will was done. After the consecration of the King, although the advice of the Maid, which certainly had a happy outcome, did not originate either from the King or from his courtiers, nevertheless other glorious deeds were performed by her, especially in the city of Saint-Pierre -le-Monstier and in the city of Lagny, where he resurrected a child who died before being baptized, so that, regenerated in the sacred source, he could obtain the life of grace. Finding Joan in Melun in April 1430, she learned by revelation from above that she would be taken prisoner before the feast of St. John the Baptist, although she did not know the day and time. But, faithful to his mission and most obedient to the King, he strenuously defended the city of Compiègne, besieged by the Duke of Burgundy and the English. One day, having listened to Mass in a church in that city and refreshed at the Eucharistic table, she predicted to those present that, betrayed as soon as possible, she would be put to death, so that everyone would pray to God for her. And indeed, on May 24, having left the city to spy on the enemies and, rejected by them, wanting to return to the city, Guglielmo Flavy, governor of that, instead of helping the Maid with her garrison and letting her enter the city, closed the gates, so that, surrounded by the Burgundian army, she was captured with a few others.
Joan’s imprisonment brought the greatest joy to the minds of the English, and they wished to remove the Maid from the hands of the Burgundians to have her in their own power. To make this happen more easily according to their wishes, the Duke of Burgundy was first invited by the Vicar General of the Inquisition and by the University of Paris to deliver the Maid to ecclesiastical justice, as a heretic. But since that had not given any answer, the English Regent Duke of Bedford appealed to Peter Cauchon, Bishop of Beauvais, who favored the parts of the English in every way. On July 14, he went to the Duke of Burgundy, saying that the Maid had been captured in the territory of his diocese and therefore, being a matter of faith, he was the legitimate judge. He also offered him a large sum of money, that is, 10,000 gold francs. The Duke of Burgundy agreed and Joan was sold to the English, who, on 24 October of that year, paid this price with the taxes imposed on the citizens of Normandy. Meanwhile the Maid, confident in divine Providence, was sustained by the lively hope that her imprisonment would not prevent God’s plans from happily fulfilling. Therefore, with a calm soul, before being sold to the English, it remained for about 4 months in the castle of Beaulieu; then she was sent to the castle of Beaurevoir: it was there that she learned that she had been sold to the English and, having heard that the city of Compiègne would be destroyed as soon as possible, she made an attempt to escape from prison, but it went wrong. However, she was consoled because heavenly voices predicted the liberation of the city of Compiègne before the feast of San Martino; what events confirmed in everything. Later it was taken to the castle of Crotoy, where, in November, by the Duke of Burgundy it was handed over to the English. While he was in these castles, everyone admired his faith and devotion. Finally, in December, she was taken by the British to the castle of Rouen, where the unfair trial against her began.
The English had a mortal hatred for Joan and wanted her death at all costs, because she had come to the aid of the most Christian King of France, and they feared her above all for the victories obtained through her; and, having learned that in France the Maid was considered as sent by God, they tried to send her to the stake as a witch. Shortly before, they themselves had already condemned a poor woman to the stake in Paris, only because she had said that the Maid was holy and had acted by the will of God. the English made every effort to ensure that Joan too was struck by infamy and condemned as a heretic, decreeing the death of the Maid from the beginning. The English King Henry VI, on January 3, 1431, wrote to the judges that, if by chance Joan had not been condemned in the trial as a heretic and a witch, he reserved the right to detain her. And the judges, for their own safety, asked for and obtained a letter of defense from the King of England. All contemporary witnesses, questioned, sincerely declared that the trial had been set up “by the will and pressure of the English”, who always kept Joan under their surveillance and did not allow her to be kept in ecclesiastical prisons. Some historians, almost contemporary, wrote that the passion of the Maid began with this process. Eyewitnesses reported that she was in prison, with iron shackles, and locked in an iron cage with bound neck, hands and feet; the keepers of his prison were bad men, with no respect and dirty with every stain of vice. According to not a few witnesses, this process, which lasted four months, was not only unfair, but also defective and null and void.
At that time the Maiden’s way of behaving was truly admirable: she, who was not yet twenty years old, remained with such a calm soul, and answered the judges’ questions with such prudence, that everyone looked at her in amazement. And the witnesses, regarding her faith and devotion during this period, declared that she always asked to be able to listen to Mass, especially on holidays, and to receive the Holy Eucharist, and it was very painful that she was denied these spiritual comforts. . During the same process the Maid fell ill and the English were seized by the great fear that she might die a natural death, so many doctors were sent to her, one of whom, among other things, reports: “The King had bought her at a high price and did not want her to die if not in condemnation, and burned ». After she was restored to health, but not yet recovered in strength, the process was continued without delay. Joan in her replies declared over and over again that she wanted to submit to the judgment of the Roman Catholic Church in everything, but the judges insinuated that she had to submit to themselves, as representatives of the Church. When asked if she wanted to submit to the Lord Pope, she replied yes, but she did not want to submit to the judges present there, because they were his mortal enemies. This response, which the judges themselves had foreseen, was the basis of the accusation, as she was attributed the false meaning that Joan did not want to submit to the Church.
Another charge gave the judges her visions and revelations, which they said came from an evil spirit, and especially those male robes, which Joan said she wore by divine command. These accusations were collected in twelve articles, and some men, especially from the University of Paris, very hostile to the Maid, although unaware of the trial, expressed an opinion contrary to Joan. However, there were others in France who defended her with all their might: indeed, several requests were prepared at that time for her release. After all, however, the nullity and malice of this process were evident, so much so that, having reached the city of Rouen from Normandy, the famous priest Giovanni Lohier, Dean of the Auditors of the Roman Rota, asked for his opinion on the Maid’s trial, in the presence of the Bishop, he claimed that it was void for many reasons. Later other very learned men, also important for ecclesiastical dignity, clearly demonstrated the injustice and nullity of the process and, for the sake of truth and to give them honor, we want to remember Cardinal Elia de Bourdeille, Bishop of Perigueux, Giovanni Gerson , Teodoro de Lellis, Auditor of the Sacra Romana Rota, the Pontano, Advocate of the Sacred Consistory, and other highly authoritative jurists. Until the end of the trial, and even in front of the executioner, the Maid never wanted to deny her visions and revelations, although the judges used every trick to make her reject them as false. And it was really very important for the English that she should declare her visions and revelations false and untrue before being condemned; in fact, if she had remained firm in her affirmations, the opinion would always remain in the people that her mission had been received by God. of the executioner. And on May 24 of the same year 1431, Joan was taken to the square of the burial ground of Saint-Ouen, where, on a platform erected for this purpose, stood the Bishop with the Cardinal of Winchester, the judges, the doctors and many others. The Maid was placed on a pulpit in front of everyone, and she also saw the executioner, who was in the street with a chariot and was waiting for Joan’s body to be declared to be burned.
But first Nicholas Loyseleur, who treacherously betrayed the Maid, told her that she would avoid the danger of death if she did what she was told. Master William Erard made a speech, and against the King of France, among other things, he said this: “O Kingdom of France, you are considered and called very Christian, and your Kings and Princes most Christian: but now by your work, Joan, also your King who calls himself King of France, adhering to you and believing your words, has become a heretic and schism ». The Maid, in her humility, said nothing about herself, but she wanted to defend the King as a good Christian; the aforesaid teacher imposed silence on Joan, and ended the speech. But the Maid affirmed that she had done nothing wrong, that she believed in the twelve articles of faith and in the ten precepts of the Decalogue, and that she wanted to believe in everything that the Holy Church of God believes; then the Bishop told Joan that the Bishops were judges in their diocese and therefore she had to submit to them. Meanwhile, the teacher Erard handed the card of the abjuration to the Maid so that she could sign it, but Joan declared: “Let this card be examined by the clergy and by the Church, in whose hands I must be placed and, if they give me the advice to sign it and to do this that is said, I will do it gladly ». To her the teacher Erard replied: «Do it immediately, otherwise today you will end your days in the fire». And at the same time the reading of the sentence began. Joan, now without strength, terrified by the threats, bewildered by so many advice and exhortations, was forced to yield, putting herself back in the conscience of the judges. Then a small abjuration card was read to her, with which she was ordered not to wear men’s clothes, not to carry weapons and other things of this kind. If other things had been written, especially about the Maid’s visions and revelations, the judges feared that her conscience would make her withdraw from the matter. But instead of the card which, according to the testimony of Giovanni Massieu and others who were present, reported about eight lines and no more, another much longer one was inserted in the trial.
On the other hand, since Joan did not know how to write, she drew a round sign with a cross, by way of mockery, on the card that was given to her. Then she asked the Promoter if she would be placed in the hands of the Church, as she had been promised; but, on the contrary, she was sentenced to perpetual prison in the same castle of Rouen, under the same custody of the English. Then there was a great uproar among those present, and many stones were thrown. After noon on Thursday, that is the 24th of May, when the Maid, in female dress, returned to the same prison, she had to suffer a lot from the English, who harassed her in many ways, and were so angry, even against the judges, who three days later, some of them having entered the castle to see Joan, unsheathed their swords, were violently rejected by them. Meanwhile, the Maid had put on her male dress again, to better protect her virginity; in fact she was violently tempted by the custodians and also by a man of great authority; and, questioned by the judges as to why he had put on his male suit, he replied that he had done it to defend his purity. Then questioned if she had had other visions, Joan sincerely replied that she had been reprimanded by the heavenly voices because of the abjuration, which, however, she declared that she had emitted under violence and out of fear, because in fact she had not even understood it. Finally questioned if she wanted to put on the women’s dress, she replied that she was ready, as long as she was put in a safe place.
On May 29 the judges gathered, and the Maiden’s death was decreed, as a repeat offender. The following day, early in the morning, two priests were sent by the Bishop to prison, by Joan to prepare her for death. The poor girl, feeling that she had to be burned, began to cry for the malice of men, who burned her inviolate body. But she immediately relieved her anguished soul, placing all hope and trust in God. Having received the sacrament of Penance, she herself asked for the most holy Eucharist, then, surrounded by about 800 English soldiers, she was led to the old market square; on her head, on a card, was written: “Heretic, witch, apostate, recidivist”. Along the way, as she shed pious tears, she recommended her soul to God and to the Saints with such devotion that it moved those who heard it to weep. There were three boxes in the square, two for judges and prelates, and a third, where the wood was ready to burn Joan When she arrived on the square, dressed in a long tunic, as she had asked, in front of a great multitude of people, she listened to the speech of Maestro Nicolò Midi, who, when he had finished, said to the Maid: “Go in peace, the Church he hands you over to a secular ». Some councilors rightly asked that the abjuration formula be read again, but there was no way; on the contrary, the sentence of conviction was immediately issued without any opinion of the secular judge, and thus, taken with great violence by the armed English, she was carried out to torture. The Maid, on her knees, renewed her prayers to God; he asked forgiveness from all, and prayed the priests to celebrate, each one a Mass for his soul. He asked for a small cross which an Englishman, who was present, made with a stick; kissed her with the utmost devotion, Joan put her back in her bosom. But he also wanted to have the cross of the Church, and obtained it. Then, after greeting those present, she was pushed by the executioner to climb the pile of wood, which was made like an ambo, and the executioner set the fire from below.
In this supreme hour, the Maid understood well the prediction of her liberation, which she had heard from the heavenly voices: “Bear everything willingly: do not worry and do not be frightened by martyrdom: you will enter the kingdom of Heaven”. She clearly understood that death was given to her because of her mission and, commending herself with all her strength not only to the Blessed Virgin Mary, but to Blessed Michael the Archangel, Blessed Catherine and all the Saints, until the last moment of her life she declared that he had done everything by God’s will. He begged the confessor to raise the cross of the Lord so that he could see it; which he did; and Joan, embracing her as she shed a large copy of tears, kissed her with great devotion until, constantly invoking the most holy name of Jesus in the flames, she gave back her soul. The holy death of the Maid aroused the admiration of all to such an extent that even her enemies were very frightened, and the same executioner declared that Joan had been sentenced to death iniquitously and that she feared much for herself, because she had burned a holy woman. . And immediately wonders occurred. In fact, many of those present saw the name of Jesus written inside a flame of the fire from which it was burned, and an Englishman, very hostile to the Maid, who had said he wanted to be the one to light the stake, seeing his death, was amazed and motionless and later claimed to have seen a dove flying among the flames. In addition, the heart of the Maid remained unharmed and full of blood, which the executioner himself confirmed. But the English wanted the heart to be thrown into the river Seine along with the ashes of Joan, so that the people could not have her relics. Finally, by God, avenger of innocence and justice, penalties were inflicted on the wicked; in fact, all those responsible for Joan’s martyrdom died a very ugly death; moreover, as the Maid had predicted, the English were expelled from the city of Paris, then from Normandy, from Aquitaine and from all of France.
After the struggles in France, when Charles VII had entered the city of Rouen, he ordered an investigation into the Maid’s trial, while the mother and two brothers of the young woman presented a plea on this subject to the Holy See: a plea that Cardinal Legate William himself d’Estonteville delivered to Callixtus III, Pope Maximus, and who on 11 June 1455 obtained a benevolent rescript, with which it was decided to appoint three apostolic judges, in the persons of the Archbishop of Reims, Giovenale Orsini, of the Bishop of Paris, Guglielmo Chartier, and of the Bishop of Coutances, Riccardo de Longueil. In Joan’s homeland, as well as in Orléans, in Paris and in the city of Rouen, judicial inquiries were carried out and 123 witnesses of all ages and conditions were subjected to interrogation, with religious oath, and finally, on July 7 the following year 1456, the judges issued a sentence of rehabilitation, with which the innocence of the Maid and the nullity of the condemnation process are declared, as malicious and malicious, while the abjuration is recognized as false, devious and void. The marvelous virtues of this Servant of God, in which, as long as she lived, she always exercised, and the heavenly gifts, with which she was enriched by God, gave her a very great reputation for holiness, but on all these things it is appropriate to overlook, for love of brevity. Among contemporary historians, who magnified with great praise the holiness of Joan and her mission received from God, we want to remember the aforementioned very famous Giovanni Gerson who, dealing with the events of the Maid, wrote in the year 1429: “This was done by the Lord “; Sant’Antonino, who in his stories considered the Maid “guided by the spirit of God”, and Pius II, Pontiff Maximus, who wrote: “A 16-year-old girl, named Joan, daughter of poor peasants, in the territory of Toul, inspired by God, as her actions show… which they envisioned as some divine presence… The judges, when they learned that the Maid had put on men’s clothes again, condemned her to the stake as a repeat offender. They threw his ashes into the Seine, so that they would never be honored. Thus died Joan, an admirable and stupendous virgin ».
The great fame of holiness, which the virtues of the Servant of God, and the gifts and celestial charisms had procured her from all, since she was on this earth, after her death became more luminous every day, and grew to such an extent. that well deservedly that passage of Scripture can be applied to her: «Her memory will not disappear and her name will be remembered from generation to generation. The peoples will narrate his wisdom and the Church will proclaim his praise “(From the Ecclesiastical Book, chap. XXXIX, 13-14). And the honors that have always been paid to her and are still being paid to her do not constitute a minor argument in the reputation of holiness of this Servant of God. In fact, from the year 1429 until today, the city of Orléans solemnly celebrates the day of its liberation, that is, May 8 and, after the religious celebration, in the Cathedral, a panegyric is recited in honor of the Maid, then a devout supplication, with the participation of the Bishop, the Chapter and the Clergy of twelve parishes, as well as the Mayor, the Magistrates and the Commanders of the army. Many graces, both spiritual and material, granted by God through her work, and prodigious healings, which are described with all the details in the respective processes, prove the holiness of Joan. Considering all these things, many of Our beloved Sons Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church and venerable Brother Bishops from all over France, and also many Bishops of other Nations, religious communities and most pious Priests, asked the Apostolic See which, as it had once claimed the innocence of the Maid, so he pronounced his sentence and deigned to grant her the honors of the Saints. Thus, after having collected many testimonies from the dioceses of Orléans, Verdun and Saint-Diè, and having delivered them to the Congregation of the Sacred Rites, Pope Leo XIII of happy memory, Our Predecessor, on January 27, 1894, declared that the introduction of the cause.
Subsequently, having premised the apostolic processes according to law, and formally approved their validity, it was a question of the heroic virtues of the Venerable Servant of God in three meetings of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, made which, and having evaluated everything scrupulously, the Pope Pius X of happy memory, also our Predecessor, on the day of the Epiphany of the Lord in 1904, solemnly announced: “It consists of the theological virtues, Faith, Hope and Charity towards God and neighbor, and of the cardinal virtues, Prudence, Justice , Fortitude and Temperance, and related things, of the Venerable Servant of God Joan of Arc, in a heroic degree, in the case and for the purpose in question, so that we can proceed to further steps, that is to the discussion of the four miracles ». As four miracles were proposed to obtain beatification, three were approved, namely the first: Sister Teresa of St. Augustine’s instant and perfect healing of a chronic stomach ulcer; the second: Sister Giulia Gauthier’s instant and perfect healing of St. Norbert from an heretical fungal ulcer in the left breast; the third: Sister Giovanna Maria Sagnier’s instant and perfect healing of chronic tuberculous osteo-periostitis. The same Pius X, Pontiff Maximus, on the third Sunday of the Advent of Our Lord Jesus Christ in the year 1908, with a solemn decree declared that these three miracles “consisted”, after they had been discussed three times.
This was celebrated in the Vatican Basilica on Sunday in Albis of the same year 1909, with solemn ceremonies and festive celebrations, while in France there was great joy. Since new miracles had occurred, the diligent Postulator of this cause made sure that they were proposed for discussion, and Our Predecessor himself, on February 23, 1910, constituted with his signature the Commission for the resumption of the cause. After having completed, according to the rules, the trials on the proposed miracles and having also made, with regard to one, the third additional process in this city, on April 6, 1918 we solemnly declared: Constering two miracles, the first, that is, instant and perfect healing of Maria Antonia Mirandelle from a disease perforating the sole of the foot; and, the other, the instant and perfect healing of Teresa Belin from peritoneal and pulmonary tuberculosis and from organic lesion of the mitral orifice. Then, on June 17, 1919, we decreed that the solemn canonization of Blessed Joan of Arc could be proceeded with certainty. Having said this, it is established that in the most solemn ceremony all that had been wisely prescribed by Our Predecessors for its solemnity and decorum should be performed; in the first place we summoned the Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church to the Consistory on April 22 of this year, who were to give us their opinion; they, after listening to the beloved son Virginio Iacoucci, lawyer of the Consistorial Hall, who recounted the deeds of Blessed Joan of Arc, unanimously exhorted us to the legitimate definition of this cause.
In the meantime, we made sure that, with a letter from the Sacred Consistorial Congregation, not only the closest Bishops, but also the most distant, were warned of such an important event, so that, in case they could also give their opinion, they also participated. These, who came in good numbers from distant regions, after having carefully informed themselves of the cause, both on what had been done up to then, especially in the Public Consistory held in our presence, and on the acts of the Sacred Congregation of Rites, a copy of which had been given to each of them, in the semi-public consistory of May 7 held in our presence, they were of the same opinion as our beloved cardinal sons of SRC; the public deeds of this decision, drawn up by the beloved Notary sons of the Apostolic See, were deposited in the archive of the Sacred Congregation of Rites. We therefore established that the solemn canonization be celebrated on May 16 and, in the meantime, we ardently exhorted the faithful to double fervent prayers, especially in those churches where the Blessed Sacrament was exposed to public adoration according to the prescriptions, so that they might receive more abundant fruits from a celebration so important, and why the Holy Spirit kindly assisted Us, in such a demanding task of Our ministry. The day so desired and awaited has come, the Orders of the clergy both secular and regular, the Prelates and the Officers of the Roman Curia, and Our beloved Cardinal sons of SRC and the venerable brothers Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops, Bishops, Abbots, present in Rome , gathered in the magnificently decorated Vatican Basilica; behind all of them, who proceeded among solemn prayers, We too entered it.
Then the beloved son Our Cardinal Antonio Vico, Prefect of the Sacred Congregation of Rites and in charge of the care of this canonization on the advocacy of his beloved son Virginio Iacoucci, Lawyer of the Consistorial Hall, presented us the votes and prayers of the Bishops so that Blessed Joan would be included. of Arc in the number of Saints. Having repeated this a second and a third time, always with greater insistence, the same Cardinal Antonio Vico and Advocate of Our Consistorial Hall, Noi, fervently implored the light of Heaven, “In honor of the Holy and Indivisible Trinity, for the increase and the glory of the Catholic faith, with the authority of Our Lord Jesus Christ, of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul, and of ours, with thoughtful decision, with the vote of the beloved cardinal sons of SRC and with the advice of the Patriarchs, Primates, Archbishops and of the Bishops, we have declared that the aforementioned Blessed Joan of Arc is a saint ». We have also ordered that the memory of Saint Joan of Arc, to be celebrated every year on May 30, is included in the Roman Martyrology. Finally, we gave thanks to God with all our hearts, the very best for such a great benefit, we celebrated a solemn rite and, after reading the Gospel, we exhorted the overwhelming and exultant multitude to seek the protection of the new Saint. Finally, we imparted the plenary indulgence of sins to all present with great affection. Now therefore the gazes of all Christians turn to the new Saint, who, to carry out divine orders, abandoned her family, left female occupations, took up arms and led the soldiers to battle: then she did not fear death threats or the unjust sentence, which condemned her to be burned. Knowing that she was innocent, and not a heretic, witch, apostate and recidivist, surrounded by flames, she offered prayers and supplications and repeated that she had done everything by God’s will, until, finding strength in seeing the cross, she gave up the spirit. But that justice, which was lacking in the process due to the unconsidered passion of men, did not delay and the Supreme Pontiff was soon able to completely reinstate the fame of Joan of Arc, whose example is before the eyes of all those who endure unjust suffering, so that they await reparation from the just and eternal Judge with a serene spirit.
Therefore, after having examined according to the rules everything that had to be looked at, with sure awareness and with the fullness of Our Apostolic Authority, we confirm all and individual things foretold, we validate them and once again we establish them, we decree them and make them known to the whole Catholic Church. We order that this Letter, even in printed editions, provided that it is signed by some Apostolic Notary and bearing the seal of a person constituted in ecclesiastical dignity, has the same reliability that this Ours would have if it were exhibited or shown. If anyone then dares to deny value or to oppose this page of Our definition, command, concession and will, or to oppose it with reckless daring, know that he will meet the indignation of Almighty God and his Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.
Given in Rome, at St. Peter’s, on May 16, 1920, the sixth year of Our Pontificate.
