Joan of Arc Warriors Pilgrimage - August 19-28, 2023
Announcing our inaugural pilgrimage for veterans, law enforcement, and first responders.
For over two decades, Chris and Catherine Snidow have been leading pilgrims of all backgrounds on a spiritual journey through France to discover the different faces of Joan of Arc: Maid, Warrior, Prophet, and Martyr. Beginning in the summer of 2023, they are planning a special pilgrimage just for patriots who, like Joan of Arc, have served their country or community as protectors, defenders, or first responders. Chris shares with us the plan for next year’s pilgrimage below and in future posts.
In June, 2022, after 3 years of COVID interference, we finally were able to lead another Joan of Arc pilgrimage to deep France. We had no problems with trans-Atlantic or in country travel. Nor with visiting Joan of Arc sights, churches, or meeting with Joan of Arc experts. Masks were optional everywhere we went (including our flights). There were no problematic incidents, and no one caught Covid, or anything else for that matter. Basically, we were blessed from start to finish. It was simply a wonderful pilgrimage!
Consequently, God willing, in August 2023, we will lead a new Joan of Arc pilgrimage to France. But this one is especially designed for our Pilgrim Warriors: those who have served in the military or similar service in defense of our great country. Some of you may have been wounded (physically, emotionally, and/or spiritually). We hope to provide an atmosphere conducive to relaxation (la France Profounde is certainly that!), a lifting of spirits, and perhaps even, we pray, for a measure of healing for you and your families, if they desire to participate.
This pilgrimage is also open to all of our first responders: Police (who have taken an enormous amount of abuse in our toxic social environment), Firefighters, EMTs, Nurses, etc, and their families.
Joan of Arc knew about the horrors of war first hand. She was wounded twice in battle and was betrayed by her King. She was captured and endured a year in prison during which time she was denied her basic rights and dignity as a prisoner of war, suffered through a kangaroo court, and was unjustly condemned to a witch’s death by burning at the stake. And yet Joan remained faithful to her God, the God of the Bible, and her King to her dying day. Today her name is revered not only in France, but around the world. Indeed, there is no story like Joan of Arc’s!
Even 600 years later, Joan still attracts Catholics, Protestants, and others because Joan of Arc speaks to everyone. Our travel philosophy will be one of going back to the essentials, of simplicity, and of quality time in some places instead of 'rush-rush' in many. Although we will indeed see much, we want to experience the places we visit more as spiritual travelers than as consumers, to first see them through the eyes of believers and/or seekers, and secondly from diverse perspectives such as military, historical, architectural, sociological, etc. So, as with all of our previous pilgrimages, we will purposely remain a small group.
We will describe the itinerary in more detail in subsequent posts, but let’s now take a quick glance at Joan of Arc. Did you know that ...
At 17 years old, Joan of Arc remains the youngest supreme military commander in history, male or female. Louis Kossuth said: “Consider this unique and imposing distinction. Since the writing of human history began, Joan of Arc is the only person, of either sex, who has ever held supreme command of the military forces of a nation at the age of seventeen.”1
Joan of Arc is the most attested person in history up to the 16th century. As Sir Arthur Conan Doyle (author of Sherlock Holmes) states, “...next to the Christ, the highest spiritual being of whom we have any exact record upon this earth is the girl Jeanne.”
She has many parallels and similarities with the saints/prophets of the Bible.
Those who knew her from childhood frequently described her as “...simple and good, frequenting the Church and Holy places.” And they left us many specific examples of her life while growing up in Domremy, such as: “Often, when she was in the fields and heard the bells ring, she would drop to her knees.”2
Her very specific and consistently fulfilled prophecies were famous even in her own time. “I told them things that have happened, and things that shall happen yet.”3
Mark Twain said, “... There have been many uninspired prophets, but she was the only one who ever ventured the daring detail of naming, along with a foretold event, the event’s precise nature, the special time-limit within which it would occur, and the place―and scored fulfillment.”4
The church authorities at that time, were responsible for burning her at the stake as a ‘witch’ on May 30, 1431. Then, officially recognizing their mistake nearly 500 years later, she was canonized a saint on May 16, 1920. She is now one of France's Secondary Patron saints and her legacy to both France and the world run deep.
Even at the stake she was heard asking for the forgiveness of those executing her (reminiscent of Jesus), as well as for her own sins: “She also most humbly begged all manner of people, of whatever condition or rank they might be, and whether of her party or not, for their pardon and asked them kindly to pray for her, at the same time pardoning them for any harm they had done her. This she continued to do for a very long time, perhaps for half an hour and until the end. The judges who were present, and even several of the English, were moved by this to great tears and weeping, and indeed several of these same English, recognized God's hand and made professions of faith when they saw her make so remarkable an end.” 5
How did this seventeen-year-old, illiterate, French peasant girl save France from English domination? After all, as you might imagine, women’s rights were not exactly in the forefront during the 15th century. For Joan, the answer was always quite simple: it was the Lord’s will. Listen to her words to the Dauphin (the heir apparent) the first time they met, “Gentle dauphin, I am Joan the maid, and the King of Heaven commands that through me you be anointed and crowned in the city of Reims as a lieutenant of the King of Heaven, who is King of France ....”
During her Trial of Condemnation, she testified that He frequently sent His messengers to help her, and only through Him was she able to do all she did.
Could this be true? After examining all the records available, we believe the best and most logical explanation behind Joan of Arc’s amazing feats and life is as she always said: she was sent by the “King of Heaven”, the God of the Bible. Through this, France was saved, and world history was changed forever.
Mr. Kossuth (1802-1894) was Regent-President of Hungary in 1849. He was widely honored during his lifetime, including in the United Kingdom and the United States, as a freedom fighter and bellwether of democracy in Europe.
Dominique Jean Waterin, laborer of Greux, Trial of Nullification, 1456
Joan of Arc, Trial of Condemnation, March 3, 1431
Mark Twain, Joan of Arc-An Essay, 1896. Jean Dixon was one of the best-known American astrologers and psychics of the 20th century. However her 50% success rate of fulfilled prophecy pales when compared with Joan’s 100%.
Jean Massieu, Trial of Nullification, 1456