St. Joan of Arc

Born in the 15th century to French peasant parents, Joan was an illiterate farm girl who began having visions that would forever change her life. In one such vision, she was guided by St. Michael to drive the English out of France. Continuing to have visions, at 16 she accurately predicted a major military defeat. When she turned 17, King Charles acknowledged her prophetic abilities and sent her to the front lines hoping her battlefield visions would provide a military advantage. Despite an arrow to her shoulder, she continued her service to the French cause. At 19, Joan of Arc died not on the field of battle, but burned at the stake in 1431 by the hand of the English who accused her of heresy and crossdressing as a man as part of the military. Nearly five centuries later, Joan of Arc was formally canonized a saint by the Catholic Church in 1920.