Becoming a saint is anything but straightforward. The candidate is thoroughly studied after their death for aspects including whether or not they led a virtuous Catholic life, and their completion of miracles both during their life and posthumously ("How does someone become a saint?" ). Often long and heavily debated, most of the candidates are not canonized until decades after their death, and sometimes even centuries ("How does someone become a saint?" ). Patron saint of France, Joan of Arc, was one of the candidates who had to face this wait, gaining the venerable title of Saint 489 years after her death in 1431 (Banfield 20). Born in 1412, Jeanne d'Arc, only later known as Joan of Arc, lived her childhood out as a normal peasant girl in …show more content…
She was able to achieve this victorious feat through her ability to be a great leader. Great leaders as defined by well known historian Arthur M. Schlesinger, are normal people who can “empower those around them” to “[rise up] and achieve a task”. Joan was able to show her capability to do such in an endless number of ways throughout her relatively short lifetime. Despite many people making themselves enemies of Joan because of her strength, intellect, and womanhood, many also rallied behind it. Joan's supporters included her very own soldiers who loved her as their general, even though she was of a different gender, age, and often got furious at their constant swearing (Banfield 34). Similarly, she was popular among the common citizens who begged King Charles to pay for Joan’s ransom after she was captured in 1429, and two years later when she was burned at the stake, reports describe people in the crowd crying with sympathy (Banfield 69-70,100-102). Not only did Joan display her ability to lead from the support of the people, she also displayed the qualities of a good leader through her communication skills. Joan was clever in her use of language, both while public speaking and writing, the most evident example of her expertise being showcased in her trial for heresy. The trial, taking place in early 1431 was a …show more content…
What she achieved in her short life cannot be compared to what many others have done. She showed her leadership through continuously giving her soldiers more hope and inspiring them with her determination to be faithful and win the battles she felt so compelled to win. Even though, her methods of dressing were far different that what was custom in the 15th century, they created her into the “figure of universal significance as a feminist model, if not a model feminist” (“Legacy”). Regine Pernoud stated it eloquently when he described how “each one of us can find in himself a reason to love [Joan of Arc].” (“Legacy”). Whether one looks up to her confidence, compassion, or faith, it is easy to see how Joan of Arc deserves the title “Saint”, and has had a profound impact on the