Video: Saint Joan of Arc
Length: 6 minutes, 47 seconds
Target Audience: Grades 6 - 10
A Loyola Productions Presentation from
the video series: Who Cares About the
Saints?
Narrator: Father James Martin, SJ
Objective:
Through watching the video Saint Joan of Arc, students will learn about the life of St.
Joan and will understand that when a young French woman takes on the responsibility of
freeing the French from foreign oppression, many judge her explanations and see her
actions as “crazy.” But a person who trusts in God and does His will can find the
strength, as Joan did, to ignore the negative reactions of others and to sacrifice herself or
himself for God.
Overview of the video:
Joan d’Arc was born in a small town in the province of Champagne, France. At the age
of about thirteen or fourteen Joan began to hear what she called “voices” telling her it
was God’s will that she help King Charles VII drive the English out of France – no small
task for a poor, young girl who knew she was unable to ride or fight! But Joan spent the
next five years of her life trying to do God’s will, only to be betrayed and executed for
her efforts. She sacrificed her life for her beliefs.
Resources for planning your lesson:
Biography:
“Saint Joan of Arc”
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08409c.htm
The New York Times:
“Joan of Arc: Enduring Power”
http://www.nytimes.com/2012/01/06/opinion/joan-of-arc-enduring-power.html?_r=0
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Prayer:
“The Litany of Saint Joan of Arc”
http://www.stjoan-center.com/topics/prayers.html
Word Search:
At the end of this guide
YOUR LESSON
Leading or Essential Question:
Read the following quotation to the class and ask the students to reflect on what it means.
Opening quotation:
“If I am not in God’s grace,
may God put me there;
And if I am, may God so keep me.”
Jeanne d’Arc (1412-1431)
The context of this remark gave it great significance in Joan of Arc’s life. It was her
answer to a pointed question from those who wished to trap her and prosecute her. Do we
ever feel that in today’s world people are trying to trap us into rejecting God and the
Catholic Church? Joan was able to stand up to the questioning of those who rejected her
belief in God and her acceptance of His will. Are we?
POST VIDEO DISCUSSIONS
1)
Joan d’Arc was born at Domremy in Champagne, France probably in 1412. The
voices of St. Michael, St. Catherine and St. Margaret told her it was God’s
“command” that she assist King Charles in removing the English forces from France.
Joan spent the next five years of her life supporting Charles VII and defeating the
English. Then Charles betrayed Joan and did nothing to save her from execution by
the English. Joan was burnt at the stake at Rouen on May 30, 1431. Her last word
was “Jesus.”
Many of the most self-sacrificing individuals in history are betrayed. Name some.
Why is betrayal such an awful experience?
2)
Talk about courage. What is it? How would you define it? From just the little more
we now know about St. Joan of Arc’s age, background, experiences and death, how
many different ways does she exhibit courage as she puts aside everything to follow
what she believes is God’s will for her.
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3)
As recently as January 6, 2012, an article entitled “Joan of Arc: Enduring Power”
appeared on “The Opinion Pages” of The New York Times. The article asks: “What
is it about Joan of Arc? Why is her story of enduring interest more than a half a
millennium after her death?”
First list on the board some of the reasons you think St. Joan of Arc still commands
people’s interest. Then read the article to find out even more about her life and why
she is viewed as an inspiration some 600 years after her death.
POST VIDEO ASSIGNMENTS
Use one of the following for written reflection:
1)
The video is filled with beautiful pieces of art that show images of St. Joan’s life.
Think about one piece that you were impressed with/remember. Describe the
artwork and tell what it showed you about the difficult life that a young woman
named Joan led as she put her trust in God and tried to do what she believed He
asked of her.
2)
What can it possibly be like to die for your faith? What can it be like to be a girl of
about nineteen being led to the stake to be burned alive? In a poem, a journal or in
your own original piece of art, try to capture both the horror of Joan’s experience and
glory she gave to God in doing His will and sacrificing her life for her belief in Jesus
whose name was her last word.
WRAPPING IT ALL UP
Have each student write one word on an index card (or directly on the board) that
captures for them the essence of Saint Joan of Arc – her life, her trust in God, her
sacrifices. If you use index cards, put all the cards in a “hat,” then pull out each card,
read it and post each card on the board to develop a portrait of Saint Joan. Take
particular note of any ideas that may be repeated and discuss their significance.
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Prayer:
Honor St. Joan by praying:
A Prayer Composed by the Sisters of Saint Joan of Arc
O Saint Joan of Arc, courageous woman soldier, called by God to fight and save your
country from the enemy; grant that I, like you, may hear God’s call in my life and have
the courage to follow it faithfully, as priest, religious, married or single.
May your motto: ‘My God must be first served,’ be mine also; so that through me, He
may build His kingdom here on earth.
Saint Joan of Arc, pray for us.
Amen.
http://www.stjoan-center.com/topics/prayers.html
WHEN YOU GO HOME
Joan of Arc was a hero, a visionary leader, a soldier, a woman who put her belief in God
above her life. Look through some magazines in your house – or in the library. Read
some current newspaper articles. How are women depicted today? Do you see any
heroes among the women you read about? Do you see any women around you who
exemplify courage, leadership and the desire to put their beliefs first in their lives? If you
do, let them know they inspire you, as St. Joan of Arc did once and continues to inspire
so many.
GOT TIME?
There’s a Word Search on the next page!
This guide was created by DeSales Media Group, Inc. © 2012
http://ctnbq.org/
For information on this video program, visit the Loyola website:
www.loyolapress.com
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SAINT JOAN OF ARC
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BETRAYAL
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VOICES
Created at: www.puzzle-maker.com
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