Life at the Seminary

Joan knew that she was going to be captured. She did not know the exact moment beforehand, but she did know that it would be within a week, her voices informed her. Little did she know, that she’d be imprisoned for more than a year. Caught defending the city of Compiègne (which remained loyal to Charles), she was eventually turned over to the English after serious pressure by bishop Cauchon of Beauvais and the University of Paris.

The courtroom
There are many opinions out there about Cauchon. He seems to be a controversial character if nothing else. He was loyal to England and hoped to ascend to the see of the Archdiocese of Rouen (a position of higher status and income) and believed his service to the English would grand him this post. The University of Paris was, after Rome, the world’s leading institute in ecclesiastical matters. We must, however, understand, that a great deal of the professors of the university had fled out of fear for the English, and the remaining ones were in generally very favorable towards the English cause.

A corrupt trial
It then should come at no surprise when I say that Joan’s ‘trial’, intending to show that she was a heretic, was a work of utter depravity and corruption. In my translation of St. Joan’s trial in Dutch I name over twenty reasons for the trial to be invalid. Joan, for instance, was kept in a secular prison, always under guard by foul goalers who made several attempts to violate her. She was denied any comfort from the Sacraments of the Church, which she needed so much. I can’t stress enough how terrible this must have been for her.

In those days, the court (comprised out of bishops, abbots, priors, doctors in theology, canon law or medicine, — over eighty in total) could question Joan on anything for hours on end. Then, eventually, they would make up the charges (over 70 in total) and Joan would have to refute them, with no means but her own words to do so. During her trial, in which the judges deliberately set her up with difficult trick questions, by posing new questions while she was still answering and by having several judges question her at the same time about different topics, we can get to know Joan as a young girl (she was no older than 19 at the time) with complete faith in God, and even a great sense of humor, despite her dire situation. Information and responses in her favor were often left out, and she was not allowed an attorney. Priests trying to help her suffered imprisonment or had to flee the city in fear for their lives.

Joan’s humor and faith
One question posed to her, about when her council appeared, whether or not they were clothed, Joan answered: “Do you not think that God has the means to clothe them?” Four instances from Joan’s trial are even today quoted in the Cathechism of the Catholic Church, a unique fact for someone that is not a Church Father, but a farmer’s daughter that could not read or write. Arguably the most famous of the four, is her answer to the question, whether she believed that she was in a state of grace. If we as humans believe that we are, we would be guilty of the sin of extreme pride. And if she said that she was not, then she could not possibly be the chosen one of God. Joan’s answer was: “If I am, may God keep me there. And if I am not, may He bring me there. And if I would know that I was not in God’s grace, then I would be the most miserable person in the whole world.” The cleric of the court wrote down in the sideline “superb answer”.

Joan’s death
As all corrupt trials, Joan’s trial did not end well for the Maid of Orléans. She was, without evidence, sentenced to death by fire. It would be recommended for anyone interested in Joan to read her trial transcripts, because I do not have the opportunity in this one page to tell you about all of the dreadful things she had to live through. Eventually, without any secular trial being held, she was burned alive on the stake on May 30th, 1431. She was 19 years old. She died while shouting the Lord’s name: “Jesus”. Despite a corrupt church, that tried to pressure her into abandoning her faith in God and his heavenly voices, that helped liberate France, she remained faithful. To this day, she inspires many people to do the same: Dieu premier servi, God served first!

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