"It is an enormous thing to answer such a question," replied Joan.
"Yes, it is an enormous thing," replied one of the magistrate's assistants, Fabri the theologian. "The defendant is not obliged to answer."
"You would be better to hold your tongue!" shouted Cauchon angrily at Fabri.
"Are you in His grace?" repeated the interrogator.
"If I am not, may God place me there! And if I am there already, may God keep me."
They all remained silent and lowered their heads. But someone continued to question Joan.
"Tell us if you refer yourself to the authority of the Church?"
"I refer myself to Our Lord who sent to me, with Our Lady and all holy saints of Paradise. And it is my opinion that all is one in Our Lord and the Church, and that a person should not create such difficulties. What difficulty is there in that all is one?"
"There is the triumphant Church, with God, the saints, the angels and the saved souls. The militant Church, with our Holy Father the pope, vicar of God on earth, the cardinals, the prelates of the Church and the clergy, and all good Christians and Catholics. This Church cannot stray and is under the protection of the Holy Spirit. Do you want to refer yourself to the militant Church, that which is thus declared?"
"I came to King of France from God, the Virgin Mary and of all the holy saints of Paradise, and the triumphant Church on high, and upon their command. And to this Church I submit all my good works, and all that I have done or have to do."
"Do you know whether Saint Catherine and Saint Margaret hate the English?"
"They like what Our Lord likes and hate what God hates."
"Does God hate the English?"
"Whether God loves or hates the English, or what He will do with their souls, I do not know. But I do know that they will be driven out of France, except those who will die here. And that God will send victory to the French, against the English."
Saint Joan of Arc
Trial (Vol. I, p. 65; ibid. Vol. III, p. 153, 163,175, p. 162, 166,174-176)
No comments:
Post a Comment