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Joan of Arc Biography
"One life is all we have and we live it as we believe in living it. But to sacrifice what you are and to live without belief, that is a fate more terrible than dying." - Joanof Arc 
Joan of Arc was born in 1412 Domremy, France. Legend says that she was born to auspicious signs held to be a forecast of national triumph. However, what is more certain is that her family werepoor and her region had suffered from the long conflict between England and France.
From an early age Joan of Arc displayed a sensitive and religious temperament. It is said by friends that:
“Shewas greatly committed to the service of God and the Blessed Mary.” (1)
From the age of 12 she began to have mystical visions. In these visions she said she felt the voice of God commanding her torenew the French nation. At her later trial Joan of Arc said she felt these visions were as real seeing another person. The visions were often accompanied by light and the presence of saints such as StMichael and St Catherine.
"I was thirteen when I had a Voice from God for my help and guidance. The first time that I heard this Voice, I was very much frightened; it was mid-day, in the summer, in myfather's garden. ”  - Joan of Arc from her trial transcript. (2)
These visions made Joan of Arc even more religiously inclined. She would frequently go to confession and, it is said that, whenevershe heard the bells for Mass she would immediately drop her work and run to church.
Initially Joan did not tell others about her visions and inner commandments but in May 1428 the divine messagesurged her to seek an audience with Charles de Ponthieu currently an ineffective and relatively weak leader of the French.
At the time of Joan’s childhood, France was seriously divided with a lack ofnational unity. In 1415 King Henry V of England had invaded France and defeated the French army at Agincourt. This famous victory over the French nobility left the country weak and divided. The main...