“If any man would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me.” (Mark 8:34)
Following Christ means bringing God’s plan to life in one’s own life. This plan comes from the heart of a loving Father. Perhaps such words immediately bring to mind ideas of renouncing life and no longer having the freedom to choose what one thinks is necessary for a fulfilled life. However, this is based on a false image of God.
In Rouen, the conditions of the Virgin’s imprisonment worsened. Although she should have been held in a church prison under the supervision of women, English soldiers guarded her instead.
The priest Jean Massieu of Rouen described her conditions of imprisonment as follows:
“Joan was imprisoned in the citadel of Rouen in a room on the middle floor of the tower, accessible via eight flights of stairs. There was a bed where she slept, as well as a large wooden block to which an iron chain was attached and used to shackle her. Her feet were shackled. She was chained to a lock mounted on the wooden block. Five despicable Englishmen were assigned to guard her. They desperately wanted Joan dead and mocked her incessantly.”
During the trial, Joan repeatedly complained about this and held Bishop Cauchon responsible. She also often had to defend herself against the assaults of her guards, especially at night.
