This saint is just the right one for our time and place in history.

Six centuries ago, France was in the same sad shape America is in now, plagued by war, foreign invasion, domestic strife, and economic chaos. Worst of all, the rightful heir to the French throne, the Dauphin Charles VII, had been publicly denounced as illegitimate by none other than his own mother, Queen Isabeau, who treacherously signed away his crown to England, leaving France with no real leader and thus inciting fear and dismay among her people.

Likewise, in the midst of war, foreign invasion, domestic strife, and economic chaos racking America today, US President George W. Bush signed away his country and his fellow Americans on March 23, 2005, by affirming the first step toward the North American Union with then-Canadian Prime Minister Paul Martin and then-Mexican President Vicente Fox, each of whom, in so doing, also betrayed his own country and fellow citizens. Consequently, ever since, America has had no real leaders and this has sparked fear and dismay among our people.

St. Joan of Arc experienced the same odious outrage that US Border Patrol agents Ignacio Ramos and Jose Compean now endure.

She was brutally persecuted for persevering as a real patriot, viciously vilified for clinging to her beloved native France. Yet, no matter how fierce or prolonged the abuse, St. Joan of Arc stood firm. She chose to remain true to herself as a Frenchwoman, and in so doing, she remained true to her family, her friends, her French compatriots, and to God. And ultimately her persecutors were justly discredited and disgraced, and this steadfast patriot became a great saint.

Today, Ramos and Compean follow in the footsteps of St. Joan of Arc. Like her, they are being cruelly defamed for being real patriots. Yet, regardless of the savage persecution they suffer for their beloved native America, Ramos and Compean choose to be true to themselves as Americans. And in so doing, Ramos and Compean remain true to their families, their friends, their fellow Americans, and to God.

And, ultimately, the tycoons and traitors among our contemporary leaders will be rightly refuted and reviled, and true American patriots like Ramos and Compean, their families, their friends, and all their fellow Americans who compassionately and courageously stood with them, will be gratefully remembered and deeply revered by future generations of Americans.--joazinha, Wednesday, May 28, 2008; posted on alipac on the Feast of St. Joan of Arc, Friday, May 30, 2008