The Prayer Life of Saint Joan of Arc: A Mystic Warrior Led by Divine Voices

Introduction

Saint Joan of Arc (1412-1431), a nineteen-year-old peasant girl who eventually became the leader of the French army, exemplifies the power of Christ’s message of inspiration towards the lives of millions of adherents to Christianity throughout the world with her martyrdom and her valor in defending the people of France. She shows us that the Christian Mystical Life is not a life of withdrawal from the world, but rather living a life that submits to the will of Almighty God.

A Childhood Steeped in Prayer

Joan was born in Domrémy, France, to a devoutly Catholic family during the devastating war known as the Hundred Years’ War. She was raised in a home and community that was heavily involved in praying for the war efforts and encouraging her parents’ Christian values through prayer. Joan’s mother taught her to pray and also instilled the Our Father, the Hail Mary, and the Apostles’ Creed into her heart forming a firm foundation for her spiritual life.

The way Joan lived her early life was not typical for a medieval Christian. Witnesses at her rehabilitation trial testified she was a constant attendee at Mass, went to confession on a regular basis, dedicated an abundance of hours in prayer at the local chapel and was known for visiting holy places. An acquaintance of Joan’s from her youth testified she was a good Christian who had a deep-seated fear of God and always frequented places of worship.

This powerful commitment on Joan’s part illustrates the Biblical principle to parents with regard to their children:

Train up a child in the way he should go, and when he is old he will not depart from it

Proverbs 22:6

Joan’s parents created a home where seeking God was natural and constant.

The Voices: Divine Revelation in the Garden

At about the age of thirteen, while in her father’s garden, Joan experienced what she described as her first mystical experience in which she had an encounter with a great light and heard a voice or voices she believed to be from the Archangel Saint Michael encouraging her to continue living virtuous lives and to “go often to church.”

In addition to Saint Michael, Joan was blessed to have encounters with Saints Catherine of Alexandria and Margaret of Antioch. These Saints would become trusted guides for Joan, giving her very specific directives that she was to travel to the Dauphin Charles and support him in taking back France from English occupation.

There are many instances in the Bible where God communicates with His people via angels. For example, God called young Samuel (1 Samuel 3), anointed Jeremiah (Jeremiah 1:4-10), and sent the angel Gabriel to Mary (Luke 1:26-38). The Scriptures support the fact that God “declares the end from the beginning, and from ancient times things that are not yet done” (Isaiah 46:10), sometimes choosing unexpected vessels—like a teenage peasant girl—to accomplish His purposes.

Discernment and Testing the Spirits

Joan’s experiences with the Sacred were not easy. Initially, when Joan heard from the angelic voices, she was frightened and bewildered. But over time, Joan learned how to properly discern between different types of voices. She was able to identify certain specific signs that were indicative of the voices being holy in nature: the voices were identifiable to her based on the clarity of their form, the voices exhibited an amazing brightness, and she received identifiable forms.

Joan’s testimony during her trial of how she determined that the voices she was hearing were angels instead of demons reveals great wisdom when she stated, “I know they are saints because they teach me to do good and not evil.” She clearly indicated that her understanding was consistent with the teaching of Christ that we identify our brothers and sisters by what they produce from their lives:

I know they are saints because they teach me to do good and not evil.

This demonstrates her understanding of the biblical test:

By their fruits you will know them

Matthew 7:16

Like Joan, testing our experiences against the teachings of Christ and the Church is in agreement with John when he says:

Beloved, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits, whether they are of God

1 John 4:1

Joan’s understanding and approach to those principles provided her the opportunity to listen to Holy God and reject the voice of an angel who did not represent God’s revealed Word.

Prayer as the Foundation of Mission

BBefore making significant decisions in life and during battle, you should be in prayer daily. Joan would pray at all times; in the morning after waking, before meals, before entering into battle, and later during the evening. When possible, Joan also went to Mass every day and received Holy Communion frequently, which was rare at the time.

Joan’s squire, Jean d’Aulon, described how she got up early in the morning to pray and meditate on God. While praying, she often shed tears, indicating the heightened intensity of her relationship with God. Her tears reflect those of biblical saints who prayed fervently for God’s favor, such as Hannah, who “was in bitterness of soul, and prayed to the Lord and wept in anguish” (1 Samuel 1:10), or Jesus Himself, who “offered up prayers and supplications, with vehement cries and tears” (Hebrews 5:7).

Joan had an understanding that there is a spiritual victory prior to any military victory; she understood this like David did when he faced Goliath. In the same way that David did, so too Joan understood that “the battle is the Lord’s” (1 Samuel 17:47). Her confidence was not based upon military tactics but rather on her assurance that God was leading her.

The Banner: A Symbol of Devotion

Joan held a unique banner during the course of battle, which bore the name “JESUS MARIA,” with an image of God the Father holding the world and angels on either side. When asked at her trial why she had the banner, she replied,

I bore the banner when we went into battle, to avoid killing anyone. I have never killed a man.

While the banner served as a standard of military strength, it also represented a level of spiritual authority. Joan knew that her calling was not merely political, but rather, a spiritual one which was waged not “against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this age” (Ephesians 6:12).

By carrying a banner instead of a sword, Joan was showing that she wanted to be an instrument in carrying out God’s will rather than using violence to accomplish her goals. Joan, unlike the way most people interpret the words of Jesus, preferred to enlighten and lead rather than take the life of another person. Jesus’ words were “all who take the sword will perish by the sword” (Matthew 26:52).

Fasting and Self-Denial

As an act of practicing spiritual discipline, Joan regularly engaged in fasting. She engaged in a very strict fast during the season of Lent. Before Joan took communion or made a major life decision, she frequently abstained from eating food. By fasting, she could clear her mind and make room for God in her life.

Joan’s practice of fasting follows the precedent set by biblical saints. Two examples would be Moses who fasted forty days on Mount Sinai (Exodus 34:28) and Jesus who fasted forty days in the wilderness before He began His ministry (Matthew 4:2). The early church would fast and pray before making major life decisions.

As they ministered to the Lord and fasted, the Holy Spirit said, 'Now separate to Me Barnabas and Saul for the work to which I have called them

Acts 13:2

Joan’s fasting prepared her to hear God’s voice clearly amid the chaos of war and political intrigue.

Contemplative Solitude in the Midst of Action

Even while leading troops into battle and contending with the complex political arena of her time, Joan regularly sought the opportunity to remove herself from the action of the battle and engage in prayer and contemplation. She was known to enter churches and chapels, many times spending several hours in prayer and contemplation. Even though she camped among troops, she found ways to be alone with God.

This same balance between action and contemplation is seen in Jesus’ life. Jesus was busy during His ministry, yet He “withdrew Himself into the wilderness and prayed” (Luke 5:16) even during His busiest ministry seasons. Joan understood that effective service comes from an intimate relationship with God rather than human wisdom or strength.

Her practice also reflects the counsel of the psalmist:

Be still, and know that I am God

Psalm 46:10

In stillness, Joan encountered the God who would use her mightily.

Mystical Union with Christ’s Suffering

Joan’s experience with mystical faith intensified as she neared her martyrdom. As she awaited her sentence to die, she prayed often. During her trial and death, she increasingly became one with Christ. She requested to have communion before her execution, prayed again and again while under threat of torture and death, and continued to make witness until the end.

On the morning of her execution, May 30, 1431, Joan received communion and spent her final hours in prayer. As the flames rose around her at the stake in Rouen’s marketplace, witnesses reported that she called repeatedly on Jesus, asking Him to receive her soul. Her last word was “Jesus!” —echoing Saint Stephen, the first Christian martyr, who cried out as he was stoned:

Lord Jesus, receive my spirit

Acts 7:59

An English soldier who witnessed Joan’s death declared:

We are lost; we have burned a saint.

Even her executioner was terrified for having “burned a holy woman.”

Joan’s willingness to die rather than deny her divine calling reflects Jesus’s teaching:

Whoever loses his life for My sake will find it

Matthew 16:25

Through her martyrdom, Joan showed her mystical connection to Christ, who, likewise, was rejected and executed by both the church leadership and the political authorities.

The Nature of Joan’s Mysticism

Joan’s mysticism is centered around the Christian faith, and the revelation of God through Christ. Unlike the New Age mystical traditions, which primarily involve becoming a being of higher consciousness, a union with an ethereal higher self or cosmic force that’s not directly rooted in the historical figure of Jesus the Christ and God’s desire to manifest Himself in a relationship here on earth through the biblical tradition.

The voice of Joan informed her doctrine regarding Jesus as Lord, God, taught her to take advantage of the sacraments, and directed her to submit to His will. The voice of Joan is always consistent with the scriptures and teachings of the Church and never in opposition.

The testimony of Joan during her trial reflects this connection between herself and the Church. When pressured to give content from her visions that superseded those of the Church, Joan answered wisely by saying:

I refer myself to God who sent me, to Our Lady, and to all the saints in paradise. And in my opinion it is all one, God and the Church, and one should make no difficulty about it.

This balanced approach of individually realized gifts of the Holy Spirit working in general according to the body of Christ, informed through the scriptures and discernment of believers of mature spiritual maturity, was also taught by Paul (1 Corinthians 14:29-33).

Prayer for Enemies

Joan prayed for her enemies, even through the pain and suffering of her torture through false accusations, and even in the face of death. When given the chance to pronounce a curse upon her accusers, she would rather pray for them.

Joan lived with this radical forgiveness, an example of Christ on the cross, saying,

Father, forgive them, for they do not know what they do

Luke 23:34

She grew through the power of prayer to share the love of her enemies with the blessing of others who were cursing her through the command of Christ:

Love your enemies, bless those who curse you, do good to those who hate you, and pray for those who spitefully use you and persecute you

Matthew 5:44

Obedience as Contemplative Practice

To Joan, contemplation was not a passive meditative process, but an active listening for the voice of God and radical submission to the message heard. The voices of Joan told her to leave home, to seek out the Dauphin and lead the armies of France when these tasks appeared to be too difficult for an uneducated and illiterate young girl; she obeyed, even though she was terrified, doubtful, and ridiculed.

Her obedience reflects Abraham’s, who “obeyed when he was called to go out to the place which he would receive as an inheritance. And he went out, not knowing where he was going” (Hebrews 11:8). Like Mary’s response to Gabriel— “Let it be to me according to your word” (Luke 1:38)—Joan surrendered her will completely to God’s purposes.

Her obedience to God was a contemplative act, a living meditation on the will of God and the active response to God. Jesus states:

Not everyone who says to Me, 'Lord, Lord,' shall enter the kingdom of heaven, but he who does the will of My Father in heaven

Matthew 7:21

The Gift of Tears

Joan, while praying, often wept from the intensity of spiritual experience and not only from sadness. This “gift of tears” is an established sign of the emotional state and true encounter with God as outlined in the Christian mystical tradition.

Her tears demonstrate the biblical truth that God treasures our emotional honesty:

The Lord is near to those who have a broken heart, and saves such as have a contrite spirit

Psalm 34:18

David prayed:

Put my tears into Your bottle; are they not in Your book?

Psalm 56:8

Joan’s tears both were an outward expression of a heart flowing with divine love as she experienced the grief of a non-receptive world to God’s divine truth.

The Virtue of Faith

Joan provided an extraordinary demonstration of giant faith during her trial. While trained theologians and judges interrogated her with the intent of condemning her, when asked if she knew that she was in the grace of God, she gave the most brilliant response, reflecting her theological understanding:

If I am not, may God put me there; and if I am, may God so keep me.

This response reveals her deep contemplative understanding. She knew that assurance of salvation comes not from our feelings or achievements but from God’s faithfulness. As Paul wrote:

I know whom I have believed and am persuaded that He is able to keep what I have committed to Him until that Day

2 Timothy 1:12

We see that the type of faith exhibited by Joan was not merely an intellectual abstract concept, it was living trust that faith “is the substance of things hoped for, the evidence of things not seen” (Hebrews 11:1).

Simplicity and Purity

The simplicity and purity of her character demonstrated remarkable humility, and her inclination toward maintaining a humble appearance due to her pride and spiritual pride. Despite her fame and military victories, she honored God in her physical appearance and lifestyle; she chose a simple life, dressing simply, avoiding luxuries, and surrounding herself with humble people where possible. Joan knew that spiritual pride destroys true mystical experiences.

Her purity of heart—including her commitment to virginity—was reflective of her experience with God and God alone; Jesus stated in His beatitudes;

Blessed are the pure in heart, for they shall see God

Matthew 5:8

Joan’s mystical visions were granted, in part, because of her single-minded devotion to God alone.

Prayer During Captivity

Finally, at her trial in captivity and denial of the sacraments, deprived of the sacraments, faced with torture, intentionally subjected to psychological manipulation, and knowing that she would suffer a painful death, the foundation of her contemplative practice was the foundation of her strength in faith.

Even when God felt like a distant silence, and victory turned to such disillusionments, she remained faithful through prayer. The legacy of Job’s faith and perseverance:

Though He slay me, yet will I trust Him

Job 13:15

Like Paul and Silas singing hymns in prison (Acts 16:25), Joan also turned her prison cell into a place of sanctity and joy by singing hymns and worshipping with her chains and fetters.

Practical Lessons from Joan’s Prayer Life

Cultivate daily communion with God. Joan prayed every day, throughout the day. As Joan and Paul teach us, we should also begin thinking about “praying without ceasing” (1 Thessalonians 5:17).

Test spiritual experiences by Scripture. Joan evaluated the visions she had through the lens of Scripture and what the Church teaches. We must evaluate all of our spiritual experiences in a similar fashion:

Test all things; hold fast what is good

1 Thessalonians 5:21

Balance action with contemplation. Joan led armies, yet prayed for hours every day. To be effective in any vocation requires balance between action and contemplation; based on how Jesus lived His life, we must continue as He did.

Fast and practice self-denial. Joan engaged in fasting to create spiritual clarity in her life. While everyone may not be called to the same level of fasting, self-denial creates a pathway to saying  “yes” to God.

Obey despite fear. At times Joan was afraid to carry through with her obedience, but she was obedient. Real faith will obey the Word of God, even when the circumstances surrounding obedience are overwhelming; we are reminded of “Do not be afraid; only believe” (Mark 5:36).

Pray for enemies. Joan’s character and love for her persecutors exemplify how contemplative prayer conforms us to the character of Christ through transformation.

Remain faithful in suffering. Joan prayed as she burned; her prayers revealed that spirituality does not provide comfort, but God promises that He is with us, regardless of our suffering:

When you walk through the fire, you shall not be burned

Isaiah 43:2

Joan’s Vindication

Twenty-five years after Joan was executed, Pope Callixtus III authorized a retrial of Joan’s case, acquitting her of all charges. In 1920, nearly five centuries after her death, Joan was canonized. Her vindication illustrates that God sees what mankind cannot see; therefore, He will make all wrongs right in His timing and way.

Jesus promises:

There is nothing covered that will not be revealed, nor hidden that will not be known

Luke 12:2

Joan’s life reminds us that faithfulness to God’s call outweighs the need for human approval, and is greater than immediate success.

Conclusion: A Model for Modern Believers

In contemporary Christianity, Saint Joan of Arc calls us to rediscover authentic mystical devotion, not misguided spirituality through New Age practices, but biblical communion with the living God. Joan’s life is also an example of the complementarity of mysticism with action, contemplation with bravery, prayer with war. Joan shows that God is continually speaking to those who are listening, and enables those who feel weak to accomplish the impossible. God continues to call ordinary men and women to extraordinary obedience. Joan’s form of mysticism was practical; it was not an escape; mysticism wasn’t focused on Joan’s self. It was not independent of Scripture, but was saturated in biblical truth.

With spiritual, personal, and cultural battles ahead, may we follow the example of Joan when we pray, obey, and trust without exception, and love without limit. Just like Joan’s willingness to hear God’s voice and follow wherever He leads.

Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go

Joshua 1:9

May we follow the same awareness of God’s presence as Joan did, always prepared to respond when God calls us, willing to suffer for our obedience, and confident that God’s purposes will ultimately be fulfilled. For as Joan testified before her judges,

About Jesus Christ and the Church, I simply know they're just one thing, and we shouldn't complicate the matter.

In that simple, profound truth lies the heart of Christian mysticism—union with Christ, obedience to His Church, and unwavering faith in His promises, now and forever.