Doubt

Jeanne d'Arc otherwise known as Joan of Arc. Her story is an interesting one - a peasant teenage girl who, having claimed divine inspiration and visions from God, led French forces to key victories during the Hundred Year's War which indirectly led to long awaited coronation of King Charles VII. Captured by the English she was tried for witchcraft and burned at the stake for heresy. Years later she was found innocent and later canonized as a saint.

I was flipping through TV channels when I came across The Messenger: The Story of Joan of Arc. I remembered seeing it before when it had first came out on video and thought it had cleverly portrayed her story - you could why she was considered a saint and yet at the same time, a lunatic.

However, I don't consider Jeanne to be the most dynamic character of the movie.

As Jeanne is imprisoned in England and awaiting interrogation, a hooded figure (played by Dustin Hoffman) starts appearing to her, questioning her visions and motives that she claims are from God.

When I first saw this movie I remember identifying his character as the devil, toying with Jeanne, trying to crush her faith in God. However, watching it again I had second thoughts. Hoffman's character, though eerie and dark in appearance, pointed out much of Jeanne's selfishness, her implicit desire for vengeance. He even prayed for Jeanne when the priests had refused her absolution. Was it really the devil trying to inflict doubt in her and offering her a sense of false comfort? Or was he an genuine angel, trying to reveal to Jeanne the error of her discernment before it was too late? Hoffman's identity is never explicitly identified during the movie, though he is credited as The Conscience. Whether or not he is the devil on your one shoulder or the angel on the other is portrayed just as well (and as ambiguously) as Jeanne's classification as a saint or heretic.



That morning, I had woken up with a strange feeling of fear. Or was it doubt? I was CIFC president, I felt that there were things God was really calling me to do with it. But was it really God's call? Or was it what I thought was God's call? Doubt is an integral part of faith. Discernment is an important thing to understand and respect. It all takes prayer and the ability to really look into your heart honestly. You'll have to pray very truthfully and humbly that God shows His will, that He shows you what is.

And not see what you want to see.