“And what of Joan's presence among so many young, armed men? Perhaps of all the nobles and military men, the Duke of Alencon - that dedicated, courageous and skillful commander - may be trusted most. Although he was a man… — Donald Spoto Copy Share Image
“However we assess the relief of the siege of Orleans and the subsequent successes in the Loire Valley, the military proficiency of the French shocked the English to the point that French victory now seemed almost inevitable. If the English had learned that the French had new materiel or a brilliant new commander, they might have been able to devise… — Donald Spoto Copy Share
“Joan's openness to God, in other words, had practical consequences that could be understood only with the passing of time - precisely the way every person discovers a meaning and purpose in life. In Joan's case fidelity to God's summon came to mean a commitment to alleviate human suffering by lifting the siege of Orleans. For now that was the… — Donald Spoto Copy Share
“In the Christian tradition, for example, the only model for faith is Jesus of Nazareth. His proclamation, one observes in the New Testament, was not particularly religious: he spoke of God, certainly, but only in relation to ordinary human life with its quotidian struggle and suffering. Nor did he speak or preach in especially religious or secretarian terms; in fact,… — Donald Spoto Copy Share
Avoid theatrical flourishes - the phrases that sound so damned good that they stand up and beg to be recognized as "good writing," and… — Donald Spoto Copy Share Image
“Centuries later, it is often presumed that such a pious tone and environment would create boredom, cynicism, and even open rebellion among any militia.… — Donald Spoto Copy Share Image
“Joan's claim that God had France in HIs care because France was sacred to him may not be merely a medieval trope, embarrassingly old-fashioned… — Donald Spoto Copy Share Image
“And what of Joan's presence among so many young, armed men? Perhaps of all the nobles and military men, the Duke of Alencon -… — Donald Spoto Copy Share Image
“What Joan impressed on the men by her faith and her actions, then, had more to do with the things of God that the… — Donald Spoto Copy Share Image
