Saint Joan of Arc

Joan was a simple French farm girl, born in 1412. When she was thirteen, she began hearing voices from heaven — Saint Michael the Archangel, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret. They told her to help the prince of France take back his country, which was being conquered by England. She was just a teenager — who would believe her? She traveled to the prince and told him: 'God has sent me.' She told him secret things only he and God knew. He believed her! Joan put on armor and led the French army at only seventeen years old. They won amazing battles and saved the city of Orleans. The prince was crowned king! But later, Joan was captured by enemies and put on trial. They tried to make her say her voices were fake. She refused. They burned her at the stake when she was only nineteen. She kept calling Jesus' name as she died. Twenty-five years later, the Church declared her innocent. She is one of the patron saints of France.