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Tidbits

October International Calendar

Did You Know...

In 1412, a young peasant girl was born. Thirteen years later, this peasant girl believed she heard celestial voices and visions of St. Michael, St. Catherine of Alexandria, and St. Margaret.

In 1429, these voices urged her to help the Dauphin (later Charles VII, King of France) overcome internal strife and claim the English throne of France. She succeeded in convincing him that she had a divine mission. After extensive examinations by a board of theologians, her claims were approved. She was given troops to command and set off to win victory for France.

She led the French in several military victories and, later that year, Charles was crowned King at the Catherdral at Reims. However, in 1430 this young girl conducted a military operation against the English at Compiegne near Paris, without royal support. She was captured by the Bourguinon soldiers and then turned over to an English ecclesiastical court at Rouen. She was to be tried for heresy and sorcery.

After 14 months of interrogation, she was accused of wearing masculine dress and of heresy for believing she was only responsible to God. She was condemned to death. She penitently confessed her sins and the sentence was reduced to life in prison. On 30 May 1431, she was condemned again, this time by a secular court for resuming masculine dress.

She was burned at the stake in the Old Market Square at Rouen as a relapsed heretic. Twenty five years later, the church retried her case and she was found innocent. Five hundred years later, she was canonized by Pope Benedict XV.

Who is this amazing woman? Joan of Arc, also called the Maid of Orleans, national heroine and patron saint of France, who united the French nation at a critical hour and turned the Hundred Years' War in France's favour.

Who are they...

St. Michael - an Archangel in Christian supernatural beings. He is ranked above the angels in the celestial hierarchy. Michael is the leader of the angels who cast out the dragons from heaven.

St. Catherine of Alexandria - 4th century Christian martyr, who protested to the emperor Maxentius at the persecution of Christians. She was placed on a wheel to be broken, hence the name "Catherine Wheel" on fireworks night. However, the wheel was shattered by an angel and she was beheaded instead. Her feast day (25 November) was removed from the church calendar in 1969.

St. Margaret (1045-93) - wife of Malcolm III of Scotland & sister to Edgar the Aetheling. She was noted for her piety and for reforming the Scottish Church in accordance with Georgian principles. She was canonized in 1250.

Literature

1986	le Carre: A Perfect Spy, novel.
943	Hywel Dda's Code of Welsh Laws.
1801	Schiller: Die Jungffrau von Orleans, German drama retelling the story of Joan of Arc.

History

2BC	Julia, daughter of Augustus, banished for immorality.
1289	Scotland under English influence.
1626	Battle of Wallhof; the Swedish defeat the Polish.

Science

16	First definite reference to diamonds.
1294	Peace of Tonsberg confirmed economic control of Normay by Haise.
1934	Mumps first isolated.

Arts

20BC	Herod began rebuilding Temple at Jerusalem.
1555	Sir Thomas founded St. John's College, Oxford.
1919	Modiglian: Gypsy woman with baby, Italian painting.