Sanctified in Tears Valued Gateway Client Normal Valued Gateway Client 2 10 2001-05-17T02:34:00Z 2001-05-17T02:34:00Z 1 207 1180 9 2 1449 9.3821

Sanctified in Tears

The Final Thoughts of Joan of Arc interpreted by Veronica Shields.

"Jesus" I cried,

As the flames licked and tore viciously into my unprotected skin,

My heart thumped wildly with my impending death,

And one last time,

My soul breathed deep,

And took from that divine fountain of heavenly providence,

A breath of divinity's wisdom,

Whose saintly pools had collected as angels allowed rivulets and streams to pour from their star bound wings.

A voice had called me,

And I had answered,

A hand was offered in guidance,

And I had taken it,

And destiny had been laid,

And I had stumbled blindly through,

Tripping and tumbling through the obstacles laid before me.

For God and angels,

My voice sang with the sweet strains of praise,

Now reduced to hoarse whispers as the flames engulf me,

Once sweet cherubs now mourning angels.

But this is not the end,

For I have seen in coming,

In my wake an endless glory,

Where God's banners fly high,

Above all of God's domain.

The armies will come,

My body will remain,

But my spirit will never die,

And will continue to watch over them.

Suddenly, the flames no longer seem as searing,

And I quiet my screams of pain as an understanding dawns,

For when my banner flies high,

My quest will be complete,

My God appeased,

And my soul will at last be at peace,

Sanctified in tears.

I smile, and whisper softly,

As my spirit is gently lifted to the clouds,

"Thank you."