Joan of Arc - What particularly qualified her for Sainthood?

Question

I'd like some ideas and opinions on this. Brave as she was, she was in a situation where England and France were fighting with one another for control of the French throne, which had become vacant and given both sides were Roman Catholic, 2 centuries before the Reformation, I see no just or holy cause.

As for visions many poor people in her time had them thanks to that hallicinogenic ergot wheat fungus. Hence I have some doubts.

imacatholic2 · Accepted Answer

Dying as a devout Christian while being falsely convicted of witchcraft and heresy is one way of being martyred.

In 1429, Joan was captured by John of Luxembourg, a captain of the Duke of Burgundy who although French was allied with the English.

King Charles VII of France could have exchanged a high ranking English prisoner for her but ungratefully he left her to her fate.

Joan was sold by Luxembourg to the English. The English, out of fear and shame, were determined to have her killed. They could not put her to death for having beaten them but they could get her sentenced to death as a witch and a heretic. 

The English found the unscrupulous and ambitious Bishop of Beauvais (yes, a bad Catholic) who had sided with Burgundy with the English. A very biased and unfair trial by local tribunal followed (which was against Church law) and eventually she was burned at the stake.

Later, with the support of the Pope, her trial was appealed. The court determined the first trial was illegal and reversed and annulled the sentence. The first trial even ignored Joan's appeal to the Pope which was the right of every Catholic.

Joan was canonized a saint by the Catholic Church in 1909.

For more information, see: http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08409c.htm

With love in Christ.

Anonymous · Answer

Joan of Arc was a cute teenage girl. =0)

glenbarrington · Answer

It's what makes any Saint qualified for Sainthood.  Good publicity.

That's not to say she wasn't saintly. or deserving, but it's like anything else in life.  The ones who get noticed, get the credit.

? · Answer

Roman Catholic procedure (requirements) since 1983, granted she lived prior to 1983:

"Servant of God"             
 "Venerable/Heroic in Virtue"
"Blessed" 
"at least two miracles must have been performed after death."

I think she meets the above criteria quite easily.

kilroymaster · Answer

For whatever reasons, Joan Of Arc was a heroine who was wrongly accused of witch craft, Also what the English and Catholic Priest did to her was so very wrong(For they raped her as well as providing false evidence that led to her execution by being burned at the stake)............ Also her saint hood was given to her by the Holy Roman Catholic Church to make up for their wrong doing............. Also it is wrong of the Catholic Church to create saints for their flock to worship.... For Jesus stated that the only way to my father is through me.............. So praying to a saint to intercede on your behalf to God is the totally incorrect thing to do........................

Rebecca of Faraway Farm · Answer

I wonder if it has to do with her trial and execution -- was she classified as a "holy martyr"?

? · Answer

she was a fourteen year old gurl and defeated the most powerful army on earth at that time, 

thats pretty extra ordinary

Joan of Arc - What particularly qualified her for Sainthood?

7 Answers