“Act and God will act. Work and He will work.”
— Jeanne d'Arc
When asked at Poitiers why God would need an army if He wanted to save France, Joan answered: the soldiers will fight, and God will give the victory. This line captures her entire philosophy. She never waited for miracles. She picked up a sword, rode into battle, and trusted that her actions would be met with help. Faith without effort was empty to her. So was effort without faith.
I was a peasant girl from Domremy who could not read or write. At thirteen I heard voices telling me to save France. Nobody believed me. I walked to the Dauphin's court and convinced him to give me an army. I was seventeen. I broke the siege of Orleans in nine days. I led Charles to his coronation. Then my own side abandoned me. Captured, tried, burned alive at nineteen. Twenty-five years later they declared me innocent. Five centuries later, a saint. I never waited for permission to act.