A Birthday to Remember – Saint Joan of Arc 

Dear Fellow Spiritual Warriors and Friends of Catholic Action: 

As we stir for battle against the world, the flesh, and the devil in this New Year, we have no greater ally than the saint who saved France through actual warfare – St. Joan of Arc. 

Today is her 610th birthday! (For the mathematically challenged, she was born in the year 1412!)

We don’t have clear documentation of the actual date of her birth, but long-standing traditions have always held that she was born on the Feast of the Epiphany (January 6th) of that year.

And what a world she inherited! France was barely fifty years past the devastation of the Black Plague, and it had lost half its population. It was embroiled in the longest war in history with its hostile neighbor, England.

The society Joan of Arc was born into was a morass of social confusion, violence, devastating attacks on innocents, and moral cowardice at the highest levels.

Sound familiar? 

We at Catholic Action are in no way pessimistic about the future, but we try to make realistic assessments about the atrocious state of our society – and weakness of our Church! – in our current situation. 

Like Joan, we face all the problems head-on, raise our swords, and let the world know that we will never let up! 

Great saints like Joan of Arc are a light in the darkness of every age. They never cower or retreat from battle. They look at the biblical evidence of the righteous achievements of holy men and women through the ages, and they see in these stories a plan of action for their ages. 

We too take up their metaphorical sword of the Spirit (Ephesians 6:14) and follow them into battle against the evils of our sorrowful age, knowing that saints like Joan stand behind us and guide us by their prayers and examples. Sometimes the saints even intervene in heroic ways as when St. Michael the Archangel spoke to the teenage Joan of Arc and called her into the fray. 

O St. Joan of Arc, our patron of spiritual warfare and lover of Christ’s kingdom! Come to our aid and strengthen our arms for battle! 

On this the traditional date of her birth, I’d like to share with you a prayer (below) that has always inspired me to keep my focus on “Catholic Action” for the sake of the kingdom, especially when the going gets tough. 

May our dear St. Joan of Arc on her birthday bless us in this New Year and prosper the works of our hands for His glory. 

Sincerely in Christ,

Thomas McKenna

Founder and President 

Catholic Action for Faith and Family 

PS – By the way, don’t miss our year in review for 2021 and our plans for 2022. We’re not letting any grass grow under our feet this year!

Prayer to St. Joan of Arc 

Oh God, Who hast raised up in an admirable manner, the virgin of Domrémy, Saint Joan of Arc, for the defense of the faith and country, by her intercession, we ask Thee that the Church may triumph against the assaults of her enemies and rejoice in lasting peace; through Jesus Christ Our Lord. Amen. 

[~composed by Louis, Bishop of Saint Dié.]

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