Joan of Arc was born to a farmer father and his devoutly Catholic wife. At the age of 12 or 13 Joan began to hear voices and experience visions, which she interpreted as coming from God. The voices instructed her on how to live a pious life. Later the voices would begin to instruct her to deliver France from the invading English establish Charles VII as the country's rightful king. Joan later identified these voices as coming from St. Michael the Arc Angel, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and Margaret of Antioch. "When I was thirteen, I had a voice from God to help me to govern myself. The first time, I was terrified. The voice came to me about noon: it was summer, and I was in my father’s garden….I saw it many times before I knew it was Saint Michael….He was not alone, but duly attended by heavenly angels….He told me Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret would come to me, and I must follow their counsel; that they were appointed to guide and counsel me in what I had to do, and that I must believe what they would tell me, for it was at our Lord’s command." It was St. Michael who would instruct her in war combat. At the age of 17 Joan of Arc led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years’ War. The conflict between France and England lasted from 1337 to 1453. Attributing her victories to divine guidance, Charles VII was able to assume his rightful throne as king of France on July 17, 1429. It was then that Joan of Arc fulfilled the divine mission given to her by the Saints whose will was that of God. Following the coronation of Charles VII Joan continued to participate in military campaigns until her capture. On May 23, 1430, while defending the town of Compiègne from a Burgundian assault, Joan was captured by the Burgundian forces led by John of Luxembourg. The English were eager to discredit Joan, her divine mission, and by extension, the legitimacy of Charles VII's rule. In an attempt to achieve this, the English orchestrated a trial against Joan, charging her with heresy, witchcraft, and various other offenses. Joan was found guilty of all charges and was burned at the stake on May 30, 1431. Joan of Arc asked for a crucifix to be held before her and repeatedly invoked the name of Jesus. 25 years after her death, on July 7, 1456, Joan was proclaimed innocent of the charges brought against her. The trial which resulted in Joan of Arc's death was annulled. She was subsequently declared a martyr. Joan of Arc was beatified in 1909 and her official canonization was on May 16, 1920 being elevated to Sainthood by Pope Benedict XV.
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