CBB Review – For God and Country

Jeanne La Pucelle, the Maid, Joan of Arc. This simple, French maiden whose life changed upon receiving a vision of St. Michael, would end up unbelievably bringing an army and a nation back from the brink near of destruction. I must admit that up until recently my only exposure to St. Joan of Arc was artwork of her, usually upon a horse, in full battle armor. Thanks to Father Michael Cerrone’s book For God and Country: The Heroic Life and Martyrdom of St. Joan of Arc, I now have a better sense of the heart and spirit resting inside the armor.

This book is at it’s core is a historical biography. Father’s writing reflects a deep respect for Joan of Arc that makes the book a highly readable account. Father points out early on how unbelievable it was for Joan to be in the military situation she found herself in.“For her part the Maid began preparing for war by intense training in all aspects of the military art. Although never schooled as a soldier or even as an equestrian, she nevertheless undertook a training regimen that highly developed her skills and greatly impressed her cohorts.”

Included are multiple accounts of Joan’s acts of charity on the battlefield.“Upon seeing the carnage, Joan wept profusely for the victims, mostly fallen Englishman. Her extraordinary compassion for the wounded and dying impelled her to comfort and console them. Louis de Contessa testified that when she encountered an English prisoner being hit on the head by a Frenchman and left for dead, she immediately dismounted, “holding his head and comforting him as much as she could and ensuring that the Englishman had confessed.””

If you have any doubt in your mind that Joan of Arc was on a divine mission from God one need only read Father’s account of the battle of Saint-Pierre. “What her page could not see, but what the Maid and the terrified enemy defenders of the town could see, was an army of God’s angels fighting on her behalf. For everyone of the five stalwart French soldiers with Joan, there were ten thousand holy angels covering his back.” A scene worthy of meditation on.

So how was it that Joan of Arc was able to turn around the plight of the French during the Hundred Years War in less than one year? Simply put, because she was sent by God. Just as God had sent David at a certain point in time to lead his people, so to God sent this humble and pious virgin soldier who became known as The Maid. Her motives in war were driven by what would prove to be virtues which led to her sainthood – faith, hope and love of God. Virtues that swayed her to not inflict unjust pain and suffering to her enemies and to not take advantage of those whom she had defeated.

After only a year on the battlefield Joan was captured by the English. She was placed on trial for trumped charges of witchcraft, heresy and prostitution. Her accusers also tried to trap her with theological nuances and doctrinal ploys in an attempt to show her to be sinning against the Faith. Essentially Joan of Arc withstood her own Passion. Much like Christ she was betrayed, mocked, ridiculed and falsely condemned. In accepting all this Joan was once more able to show her incredible devotion to God.Her undying devotion led to her martyrdom by being burnt at the stake.

Father Michael Cerronehas has given us a very approachable and informative book on the life of St. Joan of Arc. God and Country is a well researched book as evidenced by the multitude of footnotes included in the book. It is a book that is not too deep and yet not a gloss over of its subject matter either. I’d recommend God and Country as a perfect introduction to this great saint and also a springboard to deeper study if so desired.

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