St Joan of Arc

Joan was a shepherdess whole loved to pray; she often prayed at shrines to Our Mother Mary. One day while she was watching her sheep, St. Michael the Archangel appeared to her and said, “Daughter of God, go save France!”. France was at war with England (Hundred Years’ War). England had so much of France at that time, that the King of England called himself the King of France too. The real King of France was weak and he never believed that the army of France could beat the English Army. That is why France was losing, they did not have a strong leader. Joan asked the King if she could lead his Army into battle into the city of Orleans, which England had almost captured. The King gave her permission, even though she was a girl, and at that time girls did not fight in the army. She lead the Army into the city with a banner flying over her head with the words Jesus and Mary written on it. Even though she was hit by an arrow in this battle, she continued to lead the Army until at last they won the battle. Joan and her Army won more and more battles and finally the English armies had to leave France. After the war was won she was captured and sold to the English, who did not like her because she made them lose the war. She was put to death by the King of England. Joan was not even 20 years old when she died, but she was so brave. The last word she said before she died was Jesus.