Women in History: How Saint Joan of Arc Chased Me

 For Holy Women’s History Month, Lisa Henley Jones reflects on how Saint Joan of Arc’s bold trust in God challenged her to live her faith with courage. 

Last fall, I went on a group spiritual pilgrimage to France called “Warriors of France.”  We traveled throughout France, visiting the holy sites of several French saints, including Saint Therese of Lisieux, Saint Vincent de Paul, Saint Joan of Arc, Saint Catherine Laboure, Saint Martin of Tours, and Our Lady of Lourdes.  I desired to go on this specific pilgrimage for a few reasons, which I discuss in a podcast episode titled “Warriors of France: Answering God’s Call on Pilgrimage” on the Of Sound Mind and Spirit podcast. 

But visiting sites related to Saint Joan of Arc was probably at the bottom of my list of interests. Truthfully, I’d just never really given her much thought beyond that as a historical figure. And I’d never really thought about her faith or her as a saint. 

A Saint I’d Never Considered

One of our leaders on the pilgrimage was very knowledgeable about Saint Joan, and her enthusiasm and passion for Joan inspired me to pay attention to Joan on the trip. The more I learned about Saint Joan of Arc’s life and her complete trust in the Lord, the more interested in her I became. And the more interested I became, the more I saw her everywhere. Throughout the trip, she popped up. It became a running joke during the pilgrimage that Joan was chasing me. 

What is it about this French teenage girl from the Middle Ages that still inspires Catholics, not just in France, but around the world?

After walking where she walked, praying where she prayed, and standing where she died, I decided to be receptive to God’s invitation for me to get to know this woman who died for Him and to experience my life through her example. 

What I discovered beyond the historical facts was a pious young woman, a teenager, who knew what God was asking of her, obeyed His commands, trusted completely in Him, and understood God was the source of her strength. 

A Saint Who Listened, Then Led

Saint Joan of Arc was an illiterate teenager in 15th-century France, and she turned her entire life over to God, not in a convent but by hearing God’s voice telling her to lead an army to liberate her country.

Getting to know Saint Joan of Arc has led me to ask some difficult questions. Am I listening for God’s voice in my life?  What is He commanding me to do for Him? Do I step out in faith with confidence in the Lord? Am I confident that He will give me the wisdom and strength I lack for what He asks of me? When I accomplish something, do I give all glory and honor to the Lord? 

Saint Joan was bold in her faith and completely trusted the Lord in all things. How do I live my faith in boldness? How do I show my trust in Him?

She was steadfast, inspirational, faithful, and possessed integrity. These are all virtues I want to embody so I can honor God with my love and faithfulness.

God calls us to holiness, but thankfully, he doesn’t expect us to do it alone. In addition to the perfect example of His son, Jesus, and the example of our mother, Mary, there is a great cloud of witnesses — the saints — to guide us, provide example, and encourage us to persevere in faith and holiness.

Saint Joan of Arc had no promise from God that following Him would make her well-loved, popular, or even understood. Instead, she was persecuted.  She died as an official heretic of the Church. But her faith never wavered, even as she was burned at the stake.  God promised her Heaven, not popularity on earth. And she was true to Him until the very end.

It was more than 400 years before she was canonized a saint. 

A Saint Who Changed the Way I Pray

Saint Joan of Arc has inspired me to change my prayers. I now invite her intercession for my faith to be steadfast, inspired, and BOLD. And she is one more saint who reminds me to trust God completely with my life. I am grateful that Saint Joan chose to chase me on my pilgrimage, so I can learn from her example as I continue my journey toward holiness.

Which saint might God be placing in your path to encourage you in your journey toward holiness?

Saint Joan of Arc, pray for us!

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Copyright 2026 Lisa Henley Jones
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