“I would rather die than revoke what God has made me do” (St. Joan of Arc).
Only those who are deeply united to the Lord and who live in truth can dare to say such words. Joan of Arc spoke them knowing that her life was in danger. She had placed herself completely under the guidance of God, and it was only from Him that she drew her safety. The young Joan had to defend herself against the accusation of witchcraft in an unjust ecclesiastical trial convened by a bishop who collaborated with her enemies. She faced a large number of scholars, most of whom were ready to condemn her.
Our Father plants the truth deep within us. If we remain faithful to it in the power of the Holy Spirit, we will no longer want to oppose it, but will always follow it. It will be impossible to resist it as long as we do not allow ourselves to be weakened by fear of man or fear of losing our lives. For God Himself is the Truth, and the spirit of fortitude enables us to defend it against all deception.
It is in this spiritual context that these words flow from the lips of Saint Joan of Arc, honouring our Father and herself: How pleased the Lord must have been with the Maid of Orleans when He saw how she was ready to give her life for the mission He had entrusted to her, and to respond generously to His love! So Joan exclaimed:
“Since God commanded it, even if I had a hundred fathers and mothers, even if I had been a King’s daughter, I would have gone nevertheless”.
Our Heavenly Father can do great works in us if we surrender to His love. What God does is always great, even if it seems insignificant, because it all comes from His love. Through this love we can leave everything behind and gain everything.