Explain why Joan of Arc was convinced she was speaking to angels?

Historical and cultural context

At the beginning of the 15th century, France was in the midst of the Hundred Years' War, an endless conflict between the kingdoms of France and England, marked by English occupation and political instability. On the social front, tension, poverty, and despair were the daily reality of a population weary from war. At that time, belief in the supernatural, prophecies, and divine interventions was truly part of everyday life, without a doubt. The Church, incredibly powerful in medieval society, completely shaped the worldview: it was natural for people to believe that God and angels regularly intervened in human affairs. Thus, for a young girl like Joan, raised in this highly religious context and in a region scarred by the ravages of war, the idea of receiving a divine mission to save France seemed credible and even logical.

Nature of the mystical experiences of Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc claimed to have regularly heard voices and clear, precise, and sensitive visions since she was 13 years old. She referred to these apparitions as the voices of saintly figures, particularly Saint Catherine, Saint Margaret, and sometimes Saint Michael, who provided her with guidance and comfort. There were no grand theatrical displays, but rather quite simple, intimate, and recurring appearances. Often accompanied by an intense light, these heavenly voices would come to her when the church bells rang, or even in the open fields when she tended her sheep alone. Joan explained that these voices guided her step by step, asked her to remain faithful to God, and gave her very clear practical instructions: notably to find Charles VII to liberate the city of Orléans and to crown the king at Reims.

Religious impact on the interpretation of his visions

At the time of Joan of Arc, Catholicism completely permeated daily life, and mystical beliefs were commonplace. As a result, hearing celestial voices or receiving divine messages was not necessarily seen as strange or impossible. On the contrary, people were accustomed to viewing these phenomena as the obvious sign of divine intervention. Joan herself grew up in a society convinced that God could speak directly to men through visions or angelic apparitions. This inevitably influenced her own interpretation: she immediately attributed her voices to Saint Michael, Saint Catherine, and Saint Margaret, popular religious figures of the time. Naturally, everything around her encouraged belief in the truth and divine origin of her experiences. Even the Church, initially hesitant, eventually validated this perspective, seeing Joan as a sign from heaven sent to save France.

Testimonies and contemporary accounts of his celestial interactions

At the time of Joan of Arc, several people around her claimed that she regularly spoke about her mystical experiences. During her trial, witnesses recounted that she especially mentioned Saint Catherine, Saint Margaret, and Saint Michael. She clearly stated that these voices spoke to her, encouraged her, and directly gave her her missions. In the accounts of the trial, it is often seen that she precisely describes these apparitions, sometimes evoking a blinding light, sometimes tangible angelic figures. Even soldiers or traveling companions testified to having seen Joan fall to her knees, speaking to invisible beings, completely absorbed, as if in another world. These testimonies show how real her interactions seemed to her and created a strong impression on those around her.

Modern psychological perspectives on his experiences

Modern researchers often believe that Joan of Arc may have experienced what we now call episodes of auditory or even visual hallucinations. Specifically, her brain may have perceived real voices or images for her that were nonexistent in the external world. Some psychologists also suggest the possibility of a mild form of temporal epilepsy, a neurological condition that can trigger very strong mystical experiences. Finally, other specialists consider an explanation related to an intense psychological state, such as extreme stress or emotional isolation, which could facilitate such inner experiences. Without denying the personal authenticity of Joan's visions, these modern analyses simply attempt to explain how our brain can create a striking dialogue with what appears to be the divine or the supernatural.