Still reflecting on our Marist Youth Gathering, I thought of how a seventeen year old teenager, Joan of Arc, followed a bold and daring path outlined for her during her prayer. The "voices" she had been hearing for several years advising her about her personal life, now urged her to step up and help the Dauphin, Charles, to be crowned king of France despite the opposition of the English and the Duke of Burgundy. What faith trust, and pure gumption did it take for a young woman to propose leading an army against these foes? Yet she did it, defeated the English at Orleans and witnessed the coronation of Charles. Trapped by deceit after this victory she was convicted of heresy and adultery and was burned at the stake at age 19. All this before she was 20. Later, she was exonorated and declared a saint in 1920.
Our teens face foes and challenges similar to those faced by Joan, in facing the attitudes of beligerence toward religion and morals, and the values of a society that is based on "ME". The story of St. Joan needs to be presented as encouragement that impossible foes can be dispersed. St. Joan, pray for all of us, especially our youth.
Bro. Rene
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