Jeanne

They burned her flesh
But her heart would never perish in the flames
In the agony of her death she called to God
And he sent his messengers to give her comfort.
"Dear child of God, do not fear. We are with you,"
Said her heavenly voices.
Michael wrapped his wings around her and dried her tears.
Dearest Jeanne, our chosen one, soon you will be
With us in Heaven," the voices whispered.
From the depths of Rouen
Her soul was released to heaven.
A white dove rose higher than the flames around her;
She was free at last from the darkness of the dungeon.
Those who looked up at the sky
Held their breath as the dove took flight
For they knew although her flesh had burned,
Her heart would never perish in the flames.

Lina Orozco

Joan of Arc: A Terrorized Child

Where was God as the terrorized child looked for a cross?
Where was God as she screamed for Jesus as the flames leapt about her and the smoke choked her breath?
Was it 20 minutes? Where was God? ... Silence.
This side of heaven there are no answers that satisfy.
My great fear is that there is no meaning to Joan's death, her life, ... mine...
The psalmist writes: "My soul thirsts for God, for the living God...My tears have been my food day and night,
While people say to me continually, 'Where is your God?'"
How could a loving God have forgotten Joan? Deceived her? "Forsaken" her?
To punish her for betrayal - the false confession? Oh my God!! Who betrayed who???
But no ... wait ... ask again...
Where was God?
God was there, in the flames, one with Joan.
God shed the first tear when they tied her to the stake.
God hurt, felt the fear, was scorched by the fire, and suffered the loss as non who were there could ever know.
I don't pretend to know the source of evil.  But life is not a game, we are not here for God's entertainment.
God hurts so much when we hurt ... and I believe that nothing can separate us from love and from God ...
except ourselves by choice and perhaps the fear of being known ...
and then, as Joan might say, "We should be the most sorrowful people in the world if we knew we were not in the grace of God."

Mr. L. P. Dailey (Leon)
Wilmington, Delaware

Army of Angels

Then the angels rode on, for their battle was over; yet the days of sorrow were not passed, and an end was come to the story and song of those times. With them went many souls who would no longer stay in this world; and among them, filled with a sadness that was yet blessed and without bitterness, rode St. Joan of Arc, and those who keep still hope in their hearts.

...And when they had passed from the soul gate, going about the light to the unknown, they came to the sacred places, and to God's abode, and looked on the distant grace; and so they rode far at last to the high Heavens, as God's gift for the pure in heart.

Lestatreb

Where Spirits Lie

God has been there,
And always will,
As long as stars shine,
and angels dwell.
Since beginning of creation,
'Till the end of time.

You honored your prophets,
Honored your followers,
Of them though there were many,
Came one with strength and piety.
With this she drew her society,
And to her, the soldiers, they came,
To stand behind the Maid of Lorraine,
Fighting for belief and country,

But taken she was,
Into hands of unknown,
She had a test for herself,
They said she was saved,
And you helped her be brave,
There every step of the way.
I hope that I find that someday;
My her spirits lie,
So that someone else can have their wings to fly!

Carol Anne Landis

The Battlefield

Oh! so dark days...here I lay in this battlefield of death...the withered flowers of the field slowly die...the sunrise turns the skies into a blood red and some lost clouds draw animal figures in the deep space.....the silence has taken over the place, at my feet lays death...great warriors died, but not in vain, just trying to survive through this dark age...now my sword will rest a while...but in my heart the sorrow will live forever, here I lay at my trip's end, sunk in a darkness so deep; beyond of all the steep mountains, above the shadows, the sun rides, and forever the stars dwell...West, west, far away the round sun is falling. Oh!! my people, do you hear them calling? The voices of the angels, slowly fading? I will leave, I will leave, this land shudders at me; for my days are ending and my years are failing. I'll return now to the land that bore me, to my home in Domremy, where the leaves fall, that land of mine forever.  Long are the days in this vast place, Sweet are the voices of the Lost angels calling...Now that my mission is over, now that the angels speak less, as my aching body longs for rest, I'll put aside my faithful sword, I will commend now, to God, my soul...while the wind sings for the brave, I will rest here, standing motionless, in this battlefield of death...

Lestatreb

In the Name of God, She Died

No sign of fear did flicker,
Her faith held her brave heart.
The flames were lit, as her heart was broken
with a cross within her, looking up to the sky.
In the name of God, she died.
...She bravely fought
Like a thousand arrows they struck her heart
Frightened for a truth, yet far from their comprehension;
Hate was the assassin, ignorance was the weapon
..."save me your speeches, I know...
You'll kill me for sure.
What you want you will take away from me,
Take it and I know for sure,
The light God once brought in is gone forever more"...
Too late, and hopeless, they cried,
Lost in the light that her misty soul brought,
Widely it covered the land,
And vanished forever in time.
After they fell in new horror,
Sadness reign,
And spilled the first tears.
When the sweet Saint was slain...
...but even in silence,
Some heard the words:
"an oath thou shall swear
In the Name of God, 'till the world ends."
..."Oh, Jesus, my Lord, hold me in Thy hands,
Take away this pain,
Caused not by the flames,
But by the fear of a broken heart"...
And so her heart was safe,
And the pain flew away...
In a last whisper, she cried,
"Thank you, my Lord,
Now let me die,
Let me rest at last,
Let my soul fly high,
Straight to your arms..."
...In the name of God, she died...

Lestatreb