Most of these historical figures lived in France. The central figure is Mary Queen of Heaven, standing below a roundel of St. Thérèse of Lisieux in her brown Carmelite habit.
Joan of Arc (left panel) was burned at the stake by English invaders in 1431 on a political charge of heresy, after gloriously leading the French resistance. In 1456, a court authorized by Pope Callixtus III examined the phoney trial, debunked the charges against her, pronounced her innocent, and declared her a martyr. Jeanne d’Arc, (6 January c. 1412 – 30 May 1431), nicknamed “The Maid of Orléans”, is considered a heroine of France for her role during the Hundred Years’ War, and was canonized as a Roman Catholic saint.
Louis IX was another great hero of France, King from 1226 until his death in 1270. Also known as St. Louis IX.
Theresa (1873-1897) gained fame and saintly stature posthumously, after the publication of her moving autobiography “The Story of A Soul”. She is still popular in France and French Canada.
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