THE BIRTHDAY OF JOAN OF ARC

Timaru Herald, Volume CXLV, Issue 21280, 25 February 1939, Page 11

THE BIRTHDAY OF JOAN OF ARC

Every year on January 6 the inhabitants of Domremy 7 , in the Vosges Mountains, celebrate the birthday anniversary of Joan of Arc, the warrior saint who placed this inconspicuous Lorraine village in all the history books of Europe and America, writes Bernhard Ragner in the “New York Times.” “Our Joan” will be the heroine of the day 7 as the villagers this year observe the 527th anniversary of her birth.

She wgs born in Domremy in 1312; she was seventeen when she became the victorious leader of the French Army; nineteen when, with remarkable courage, she- met her destiny in Rouen marketplace. Because of her heroic qualities, she has become * saint of the universal church; further in Domremy, a majestic basilica has been erected in her honour.

Indeed, this basilica (only a short distance from the humble church where Joan worshipped) has become a national shrine, both patriotic and religious in nature. Two years ago, on her birthday 7, an "eternal candle” was placed within it to symbolise her virtues; it burns before the high altar.

“In these critical days,” declared the officiating Bishop, "it is proper that our eyes, our minds, our hearts, should turn to St. Joan, liberator of the French motherland. And that is the purpose of this candle. As long as our globe exists, this candle will bum for France; it will evoke her simple faith, her ardent patriotism, her unfailing courage—qualities which we need more than ever to-day. May the rays from this candle illumine our hearts and guide our minds as we face the problems before us.”

Could Joan return to Domremy, she would find her hamlet changed, but not too much. In truth, much of Domremy remains exactly as when she left it to expel the English from France. For example, the Chenu Woods, where she heard the voices of St. Michael, St. Marguerite and St. Catherine, are practically unchanged in aspect. Hie same is true of the church where she was once a devout attendant; true, it has been restored and repaired, but it remains an exact copy of the structure of 1412. The holy water font, in which the youthful Joan dipped her fingers, is still there; also the baptistry which functioned at her baptism. However, if Joan could come back to Domremy, she might be astonished

at the number of statues of herself, also at the nationality of the donors for many of them were English. Perhaps she would be amazed at a quotation from Kipling which speaks of “the cruel, undying sin we shared in Rouen marketplace.” These statues of Joan are to be found in the garden of her father, in the village church, and within the Romanesque basilica named after her.

Further, Joan would doubtless express wonder at a strange, and to her unknown, banner with stars and stripes, given by a race of people called Americans, of whom Joan never heard.