Joan of Arc – her beginnings
Walter Adams
As a child Joan of Arc’s local community
knew her by the name, “Jeannette.” That later became what we know in
English today as “Joan” after she left her small village on the
borderlands of the Holy Roman Empire and ventured on her mission into
what was left of France during that period of the Hundred Years War
between England and France.
Joan was born in Domrémy, which
essentially was one community with Greux, and it was the latter that
held the principle community church.
Joan was born on the Feast of the
Epiphany, January 6, 1412 to Jacques d’Arc and Isabelle R0mée and
baptized in the church of Domrémy by a priest she recalled years later
and to the best of her ability as Jean Minet. Joan had many godparents
based on what she remembered her mother saying, and by her own
recollection named an Agnes, another “Jeanne” (Joan in English), and a
Sibille as godmothers, along with a Jean Lingue and Jean Barre as
godfathers.
Mother Isabelle taught Joan her Catholic
faith, particularly the Pater Noster (Our Father), the Ave Maria (Hail
Mary), and the Credo (Creed). From a work and chore standpoint, Joan
boasted mischievously of her ability to out-sew and out-spin any of the
ladies in the region. She confessed her sins often, if not to her parish
priest, to any who could hear them, notably to the begging friars in
the nearby town of Neufchâteau. She received the sacrament of the
Eucharist at a minimum every Easter.
Joan’s account of her own beginnings are
fully confirmed by the testimonies of many who knew her as a child, for
example, Jean Moreau, a farmer at Greux and one of Joan’s godfathers,
along with Simon Musnier, Mengette (Marguerite), and Hauviette who were
playmates, just to name a few.
These many eye witness accounts of Joan’s
early years reveal a very normal life, though in very unsettling times,
and a most pious and devoted spirit. Joan gave alms to the poor, cared
for the sick, and worked very hard at her chores, including taking care
of the livestock, all the while maintaining a very pleasing demeanor.
Her priest spoke of her to others, at the time he knew her (and not
simply in reflection many years later), as the best and most devoted
Catholic he had. She would visit often the nearby hermitage of Our Lady
of Bermont, founded in honor of the Blessed Virgin, with candles or
flowers. Other accounts point to her being so pious and observant that
the other children sometimes made fun of her.
Joan of Arc was raised a good, hard-working girl and a pious, devoted Catholic.
Source: Joan of Arc – By herself and her witnesses, Régine Pernoud, pp. 15-20
Conditions were not ideal in Domrémy
while Joan was a youth. Of course, the Hundred Years War made the
situation appalling at times. Of notable importance is the fact that
France was at war with herself during this period. Due to a feud between
the Prince of Burgundy and the “dauphin” (heir apparent to the Kingship
of France) Charles the VII, the Burgundians sided with the English to
deny Charles the French crown and create a “double crown” for the King
of England. The Anglo-Burgundian alliance made significant headway
against Charles VII and his beleaguered Armagnac army (named for the
region that rallied to defend the dauphin). Domrémy was one of the few
towns in the region to hold out for Charles. One notable exception was
Vaucouleurs. Another was Neufchâteau.
Domrémy was almost exclusively sided with
the dauphin and opposed to the Anglo-Burgundian alliance. Joan said
that she knew “only one Burgundian there, and I could have wished his
head cut off – however, only if it pleased God.” Nearby Maxey was
Burgundian. Whereas Joan had no recollection of the children fighting,
she did remember adult villagers from Domrémy going out to fight the
Burgundians of Maxey and coming home wounded and bleeding.
Despite the neighborly ill-will caused by
the civil war in France and the anxiety created by the English
advances, Joan maintained a beautifully positive point of view. She
expressed not that she wished to fight the Burgundians but that she “had
a great will and desire that my King (Charles) have his kingdom.” Early
in life, love for her King and his Kingdom drove Joan’s stern attitude
toward the Burgundians as opposed to a hatred for her Burgundian enemy.
Though Joan could not remember well the
degree to which she continued guarding the livestock after she grew
older and attained the age of reason, she did remember taking on the
responsibility to drive them away from Domrémy to a fortified place
called the Isle for fear of “men-at-arms.” Once, in danger of Burgundian
attacks, Joan stayed for about fifteen days in Neufchâteau with a
highly regarded local woman named La Rousse. She did not stay longer as
she preferred Domrémy.
Fear of Burgundian men-at-arms clearly
played havoc on the lives of the residents of Domrémy, Joan included.
Joan would have much more serious reasons to fear Burgundians years
later, but for now, she and her playmates would find ways to enjoy
themselves as any children will.
Source: Joan of Arc – By herself and her witnesses, Régine Pernoud, pp. 20-21
