May 30 - St. Joan of Arc
May 30 is the feast of one of our Saint Groups (those with last names P-Sc). St. Joan of Arc was born to French peasants on January 6, 1412, and died May 30, 1431. She lived during the last part of the Hundred Years’ War (1337-1453), in which England attempted to take control of France. The war, along with the plague, had wiped out half of the population of France, which was on the verge of defeat by the time Joan appeared. After seeing the prince crowned King Charles VII, Joan was captured by Anglo-Burgundian forces, tried for witchcraft and heresy and burned at the stake at the age of 19.