Joan of Arc

1923 film The Passion of Joan
of Arc

In 2006 Dave and I took the most romantic trip you could imagine.  We cruised the Seine River from Paris to La havre.  About half way we stopped at the ancient town of Rouen.  This is where Joan of Arc was burned at the stake.

I didn't know much about Joan at the time.  But we went to the lectures and visited the church that has been built at the old market place, right on the spot where Joan was martyred in 143l.  What I remember most was that "dressing like a man" was one of her big crimes, but she was burned by the church for being a heretic.

One of many performances of
"Voices of Light"

Last night we went to the Rollins College campus to see a sold out performance of "Voices of Light," performed by the Bach Festival Society, presented in partnership with Gladdening Light, an initiative that explores the connection of art and spirituality.

Me saying hi to Dave. 

The different and amazing thing about "Voices of Light" is that it presents the 1928 silent film, "The Passion of Joan of Arc," which depicts her trial and execution using actual transcripts,  along with the magnificent music of the Bach Choir, orchestra end Rollins College Choir.  Many people were weeping during the performance.

Joan saw visions, was a teenage military leader (hence the men's clothing that protected her;) was judged to be a heretic, was martyred in the most despicable and brutal way - and then was made a saint.

I was grateful to have this solemn, magnificent, spiritual experience last night.  And I was grateful eight years ago to have had one of the first of my many awesome trips with Dave.  After our  2009 cruise in France, we spent a few extra days in Paris.  We stayed at the very small, very French, Hotel Jeanne D' Arc.

The French love their Joan.


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