Feast of St. Joan of Arc

The Feast of St. Joan of Arc—Patroness of Soldiers and of France is celebrated on May 30^th. It commemorates the saint's martyrdom on May 30, 1431, when she was burned at the stake for heresy. Considered as one of the Catholic Church’s most popular saints, St. Joan is often invoked by individuals who need to accomplish a very difficult, nearly impossible task.

Born Jeanne la Pucelle in 1412 in Domremy, France, St. Joan, at the age of 17, led the French army to several important victories during the Hundred Years’ War, a prolonged conflict between France and England from 1337 to 1453. Attributing her victories to divine guidance, Charles VII was able to assume his rightful throne as king of France with her at his side.

Following her execution, there were many who felt that Joan of Arc should not have been burned, but honoured and made a saint for her communications with God, and her hand in leading the French to freedom from the English.

Sadly, it was not for several years until she was even cleared of the charges. In 1452, the process of clearing her name would begin, and during that same time the Church declared that a religious play made in her honour at Orleans would qualify as a pilgrimage.

This set the stage for the sainthood of Joan of Arc, and the creation of a Joan of Arc Day, or St. Joan of Arc feast day to honour her. The push to make her a saint and create a Feast Day of Joan of Arc would gain some steam during the 16th century when Joan of Arc became a symbol of the Catholic League.

By 1849, Monsignor Felix Dupanloup, who was the Bishop of Orleans, made the attempt for Joan of Arc's beatification and a creation of a Joan of Arc Day, until his death in 1878. Sadly, he did not live to see how the process would turn out for Joan of Arc.

Joan of Arc would finally have her beatification in the year 1909, which would lead to the creation of a Feast of St. Joan of Arc. Her official canonization would happen on May 16, 1920, with the Joan of Arc Feast Day being set for May 30. Her canonization was performed by Pope Benedict XV at St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome. May 30 was chosen as the day for the Saint Joan of Arc Feast Day because it was the day she was burned at the stake. In all, 489 years passed between her death and her canonization, a notoriously long period of time for sainthood.

However, since the creation of the Feast Day of Joan of Arc and her sainthood, Joan of Arc has become one of the most popular saints in the history of the Catholic Church. Joan of Arc Festival or feast is celebrated on May 30th.