Happy Feast Day, St. Joan of Arc

St. Joan of Arc was born in 1412, the youngest child of a peasant family, in Domrémy, a village in northeastern France. St. Joan fought for her country in The Hundred Years War, a long battle between the royal houses of France and England for control of the French throne.

Joan became a great soldier and led the French to victory, helping them win a crucial battle in the French city of Orléans.

The following year, however, Joan was captured by the English and put on trial for heresy. She was put to death at 19, while praying and holding a cross.

St. Joan, who was canonized in 1920, is the patron saint of France, prisoners, soldiers and those who are ridiculed for their piety.

She is also the patron saint of the city of New Orleans and has two local Catholic churches/elementary schools in her name: St. Joan of Arc in New Orleans, and St. Joan of Arc in LaPlace.