The double ceremony in Rouen

DRESSED in deep mourn. ing and supported by her son Pierre, Isabelle Romee, mother of Joan of Arc, arrived at the Cathedral of Notre Dame in Paris formally to present to the Papal representatives her request that the trial of 1431, in which Joan was condemned to death, should be reheard.
The date was November 7, 1455.
This was in fact a formality, for the new Pope, Calixtus III, had already issued a rescript to this effect.
The following year. on July 7, came the Rehabilitation — the official declaration by the Church that the trial of St. Joan at Rouen, which had resulted in her being burnt to death as a heretic. was null, without value or effect, and to be quashed.
Such was th vindication of St. Joan which gives rise to the 500th anniversary celehrations this month —celebrations which will he marked by a distinguished delegation from this country to Rouen headed by the Cardinal Archbishop of Westminster and by Sir Gladwyn Jebb, British Ambassador in Paris.
THE BANNER
91I-IE Cardinal and Sir Ciladwyn Jebb will have a place in a great civic procession on Sunday in the presence of the President of France.
Before the delegation will be carried a Union Jack followed by a banner of St. Joan inscribed " Homage to St. Joan from England."
The delegation has been organised hy Sr. Joan's Social and Political Alliance Quincentenary Committee which was originally formed in 1931 to commemorate the 500th anniversary of St. Joan's death.
Some of the most distinguished people in this country, Catholics and non-Catholics, supported their appeal to provide a window of St. Joan in Rouen as an amende honorable for the part played by the English in her martydrom just 500 years before.
THE WINDOW
THE window which has been erected in the chapel nf St. Joan in the restoied Cathedral is the work of Max Ingrand. It shows incidents in the life of the saint and bears the inscription " From the English in homage," The ceremonies On Sunday will mark not only the anniversary of the Vindication hut the restoration of the Cathedral to public use.
At 5 p.m. the great doors will be open for the first time for 12 years.
The Cathedral dates principally from the first half of the 13th century and recalls many English Cathedrals built within the next 200 years.
In 1940 it was saved from the fire that destroyed so much of the picturesque old quarter that lay between it and the Seine. But the great disaster came in the homhing raids of 1944. Most of the South aisle and chapels collapsed, the apse and vaulting were severely damaged. and the lead roof of the famous Tour St, Romain melted away. the great bells disappearing in the flames,
IN ENGLAND
THE quincentenary of the Rehabilitation of St. Joan has already been celebrated in this country. By special permission of the Holy See, the Mass of St. Joan could be celebrated in any church in England and Wales this year on May 30, her feast day.
And in Westminster Cathedral members of the Catholic Women's League. the Dames of Si. .Tan and St. Joan's Alliance attended an Evening Mass on her feast day and heard a sermon in English and in French by Fr. Pilkinglon.
On the same day. Bishop Cowderoy of Southwark consecrated the Church of St. Joan of Arc at Farnham in Surrey, which was opened 25 years ago, the quincentenary of the burning of St. Joan.
Archbishop King. successor of Cardinal Beaufort. the Bishop of Winchester who had a share in the condemnation of St. Joan, consecrated the Lady altar.
At the end of May too, Archbishop Marella. Papal Nuncio to France. celebrated Mass in the open air at Domremy, the village in which St. Joan was born.
FESTIVAL AN exhibition " Joan of Arc and her Times" has been opened in Rouen at the Muse des Beaux Arts, During this week there have been open air stage performances. Tomorrow (Saturday) there will he a great historical procession through the town, including delegates from all the French provinces. In the evening public buildings and monuments will he floodlit.
But the great ceremonies are reserved for Sunday when the great doors of the Cathedral open at 5 p.m.