April 19

The 15th century was a rather rough patch for Joan of Arc, what with her being burned at the stake and all. Joan was executed on May 30, 1431. Things got a bit better when Pope Callixtus III re-opened her case and she was granted a new trial. While at the conclusion of the trial she was declared innocent of all charges, the trial unfortunately took place on July 7, 1456 and really did Joan absolutely no good at all. The twentieth century proved to be much friendlier century for her. Joan’s prospects looked a bit brighter when Pope Pius X beatified her on the 19th in 1909. But things really started looking up for her when Pope Benedict XV canonized the dear girl on May 16, 1920.