Jeanne d'Arc

Jeanne d’Arc 1431

I find the inclusion of Jeanne d’Arc in Holy Women, Holy Men, to be a bit intriguing as she is both a soldier and mystic.  In a church that seems, in its unofficial doctrine, to veer toward pacifism, the inclusion of a violent person, a battle leader, a patriot, a nationalist, in its most recent collection of commemorations is striking.  Her inclusion as a mystic may be more understandable as mysticism is highly subjective and experiential, thus affirming the bent toward using experience as a significant tool of theological reflection.  Remember, experience cannot be questioned in the post-modern mind.

 

However, it was exactly Jeanne’s experience that was questioned, which led to her execution, and ultimately her posthumous acquittal by Pope Callistus II.

There is always a tension between the individual experience of the believer and theological reflection.  Maybe the best answer is to return to the concept that we shall be known by the fruit we bear.

In any case, despite the politics of her trial, I am a big fan of Jeanne d’Arc.  From the little we have recorded of her visions, she was no heretic, and her mystical visions fell in line with creedal Christianity.  She was a patriot, seeking peace between the Houses of Orleans and Burgundy.  She fought against the territorial expansionist appetites of the English (allied with Burgundy), and inspired a people.  One wonders what would have happened if she had had the full support of the French court at the hour of need, rather than falling victim to the politics of the English, Burgundian, Orleanais, and their vassals in the Church.

Among the propers for this day is Psalm 144.  (In the army, this was known as the artilleryman’s psalm.) 

Blessed by the LORD, my rock, who trains my hands for war
And my fingers for battle;
He is my steadfast love and my fortress,
My stronghold and deliver,
My shield and he in whom I take refuge,
Who subdues peoples under me.
O LORD, what is man that you regard him,
Or the son of man that you think of him?
Man is like a breath;
His days are like a passing shadow.
Bow down your heavens, O Lord, and come down!
Touch the mountains so that they smoke!
Flash forth the lightning and scatter them;
Send out your arrows and rout them. (vs 1-6)

It is a fitting psalm for Jeanne and her commemoration.

One of the most powerful performances in film history was given by Maria Falconetti as the title character in Dreyer’s 1927 La Passion de Jeanne of Arc.  In the 1990s, Richard Einhorn, composed a new soundtrack for the silent film, using medieval mystical texts and letters for the lyrics of the libretto.  It has been powerfully paired with Dreyer’s film.  Below is the first section of eight available on YouTube.  I still moved by this pairing and Falconetti can say more with her eyes than I can with words.

The Collect

Holy God, whose power is made perfect in weakness: we honor you for the calling of Jeanne d’Arc, who, though young, rose up in valor to bear your standard for her country, and endured with grace and fortitude both victory and defeat; and we pray that we, like Jeanne, may bear witness to the truth that is in us to friends and enemies alike, and, encouraged, by the companionship of your saints, give ourselves bravely to the struggle for justice in our time; through Christ our Savior, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, now and forever. Amen.

Blessed Jeanne d’Arc, Maid of Orleans, pray for us.