‘Everything I have done has been by the order of our Lord. I have done nothing in the world except what God has commanded me to do’ (Saint Joan of Arc).
In the 15th century, Saint Joan of Arc was able to utter these wonderful words before the court of Rouen, which wanted to condemn her as a witch to please the enemies of the French monarchy of that time.
But, from a spiritual point of view, they did not achieve what they wanted. Although they handed down a false and invalid sentence that led to Joan’s body being burned at the stake, they were never able to damage the purity of her soul.
This soul was totally focused on God. Having two saints in heaven as spiritual companions, she spoke directly to them every day to seek advice on everything she had to do and followed their instructions to the letter. When she was only thirteen years old, the archangel Saint Michael appeared to her and exhorted her to be a ‘good girl.’ From that moment on, heaven itself prepared her for the mission that would later be entrusted to her.
The very particular nature of her mission, which she could never have accomplished on her own, points to this direct and holy guidance from God. Thus, from the beginning, our Father glorified Himself in this soul so beloved by Him. She did nothing without Him. She always received the necessary instructions and corrections, so that she was able to make this momentous statement before her judges with complete purity and truth.
Thus, these erring men condemned one of the purest human beings this earth has ever seen, ‘one of the most charming creatures that the love of God has called into existence’ (inner word).
May Saint Joan help us to be able to affirm also: ‘We want to do nothing except what our Father commands us,’ and may we make this more and more a reality.