Jeanne d'Arc, Maid of Orleans, Deliverer of France: Being the Story of Her Life, Her Achievements, and Her Death, as Attested on Oath and Set Forth in the Original Documents
History
Jeanne d'Arc, Maid of Orleans, Deliverer of France: Being the Story of Her Life, Her Achievements, and Her Death, as Attested on Oath and Set Forth in the Original Documents
Joan, of Arc, Saint, 1412-1431 -- Trials, litigation, etc.
“Up to this time you have obstinately refused. And although many others
might long since have declared the Case heard and have given judgment
upon you, nevertheless my Lords your Judges, enflamed with zeal for the
salvation of your soul and body, desired, in order to have their advice,
to send your sayings and deeds to the University, that light of all
Science, that extirpator of all error. The resolutions of the University
of Paris have come to your Judges. They have then decided, always in the
hope of your salvation, to admonish you once again, to again call your
attention to your errors, your scandals and all the faults that you have
committed in such great number.
“They exhort you, your Judges, they beseech you, they admonish you by
the bowels of Our Lord Jesus Christ, Who hath suffered a cruel death for
the redemption of man, they beseech you to correct your words, to submit
them to the judgment of the Church, as all the faithful are bound and
obliged to do. Do not allow yourself to be separated from Our Lord Jesus
Christ, Who hath created you to be a sharer in His glory; do not choose
the way of eternal damnation with the enemies of God, who daily set
their wits to work to find means to trouble mankind, transforming
themselves often, to this end, into the likeness of Our Lord, of Angels
and of Saints, as is seen but too often in the lives of the Fathers and
in the Scriptures.
“Therefore, if such things have appeared to you, do not believe them.
The belief which you may have had in such illusions, put it away from
you. Believe rather in the words and opinions of the University of Paris
and other Doctors, who, knowing the law of God and Holy Scripture,
decide that no faith should be placed in such apparitions, nor should
faith be placed in any extraordinary apparitions, in any novelty which
is not supported by Holy Scripture, by a sign, or by a miracle.
“You have very lightly believed in such things, you who have not turned
to God in earnest prayer that He would grant you certainty; you who, to
enlighten yourself, have not applied to a prelate or a learned
ecclesiastic. This you ought to have done: it was your duty, considering
your estate and the simplicity of your knowledge.
“Let us take an example: If your King had given you a treasure to guard,
forbidding you to receive any one, whoever it might be, should you not
refuse to receive one who presented himself to you, saying he came by
order of the King, unless he brought you a letter or some certain sign?
For the Church it is the same thing: when Our Lord Jesus Christ,
ascending into Heaven, confided the government of His Church to the
blessed Apostle Peter and his successors, He forbade us to accept
anything from others who might come in His Name, who should have for the
support of their mission only their own sayings. You ought not to have
put faith in those whom you say came to you; and we also, we ought not
to believe in you, since Our Lord hath expressly commanded the contrary.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account