The 599th Birthday of Saint Joan of Arc

The talking heads are adding their bit to global warming with their comments on the new version of Mark Twain's Huck Finn, from which the "n" word has been removed.

Today, is the anniversary of the birth of the Church's great saint, Jean d'Arc or Joan of Arc, as we English speakers call her. Being British by birth, there are some things of which I am ashamed but none more than the way the British hierarchy, secular and eccesiastical, treated their enemy Joan.

Being American by adoption, it is a source of some joy that my compatriot Mark Twain is the author of, what many agree, is the best biography on Joan. The fictional biography, "Personal Recollections of Joan of Arc",  was originally published under a nom de plume. Twain was unsure how the work would be received under his own name. He claimed the work as a labor of love when he said,
 "Possibly the book may not sell, but that is nothing - it was written for love."
Quite a claim for an opus that he spent more than a decade researching and writing.

In days gone by, we celebrated the feast of the Epiphany on January 6. Today, Epiphany is a moveable feast and of late, it falls on the second Sunday after Christmas. We know so little about the Magi, not even how many there were. In contrast, we know so much about Joan and her contribution to France becoming known as the Elder Daughter of the Church. Given the key role that France will play in the restoration of the Catholic Faith, I would like to use this occasion to say ,"Vive le France and Vive the Maid".

2012, will be the six hundred anniversary of Joan's birth. Think about it!
How much France and the world owes Joan, yet how little does the average Catholic know about her. Give your children a treat by reading Twain's biography on Joan to them. It is both exciting and inspiring. Perhaps this is one way to help form the hearts of the young people Henri will need to accompany him as he rids the world of  God's enemies. I believe you can gain  more than a glimpse of Henri's character, in Joan. For example, Joan never shed her enemies' blood despite the engagements in which she fought. Henri's hands too will be free of blood, despite his many battles.

"No war may be waged in God's name"

These words are attributed to the Pope by someone defending him from a recent verbal attack by the former Grand Mufti of Egypt.

Marie Julie was told that when the Great Monarch is revealed he will enter France and make his way to Brittany where he will raise an army to drive out those who have invaded and occupied France, (the third crisis). Subsequently he will do the same in Italy before going to Germany to defeat the enemies of the Church in one last battle, often referred to as Armegeddon.

How will the Great Monarch be able to defeat the enemies of the Church if,
          "No war can be waged in God's name."?

Does the answer lie in the proposition that it is NOT sinful to injure or kill a person(s) who is trying to harm or kill you or someone you are responsible for? In order to prevent someone from committing a mortal sin, one may restrain or even use deadly force against the would-be sinner.

Will Henri's army consist of virtuous "soldiers" whose mission is to protect and preserve the life of Henri? Given such a mission they would not wage war in God's name but could kill those who will try to kill Henri.

Marie Julie was told that Angels will fight on Henri's side in battle. Could it be that Angels are better able to discern the intentions of Henri's enemies and will also restain or kill those who would commit mortal sin against him or his followers?

How does one recruit an army of supporters who are only allowed to use force to prevent the commission of sin? Not an easy task; only possible with divine assistance. Such an army would consist of loving people in whose hearts there is no desire to harm the enemy but to save him from damnation.

I wonder who and where are the Spirit-filled parents who are grooming their children in preparation for the appearance of the Great Monarch?