# Catholicism Not Yet Catholic Enough explained — Saint Joan

> Chapter companion for Saint Joan by George Bernard Shaw.

## What happens

The chapter argues that the Church must broaden its understanding to include figures like Joan of Arc, acknowledging that institutional orthodoxy cannot always accommodate prophetic genius. It calls for humility, acceptance of tension between regal, sacerdotal, and prophetic powers, and recognition that freethinking and faith are not opposed. Joan's canonization is framed as a Catholic gesture toward a Protestant saint, urging the Church to learn from its historical mistakes.

## Themes in this chapter

### Heresy and Sanctity

Explores how the Church's condemnation of Joan as a heretic was later reversed through canonization, highlighting the blurred line between heresy and sanctity.

### Faith and Reason

Argues that freethinking and faith are not opposed, and that the Church must embrace both to avoid repeating historical errors.

## Character check-ins

### Joan of Arc

Presented as a prophetic figure whose burning was a mistake, and whose canonization represents a lesson for the Church.

### Galileo

Mentioned alongside Joan and Bruno as an example of the Church's historical blunders against freethinkers.

## Key lines

> Our Churches must admit that no official organization of mortal men whose vocation does not carry with it extraordinary mental powers... can keep pace with the private judgment of persons of genius

Institutional churches cannot match the insights of exceptional individuals.

_Highlights the limitation of institutional authority compared to individual genius._

> We must accept the tension, and maintain it nobly without letting ourselves be tempted to relieve it by burning the thread.

We should embrace the productive conflict between different powers rather than violently suppressing it.

_Summarizes the chapter's central call for maintaining creative tension._

## Links

- HTML: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/saint_joan_se/chapters/catholicism-not-yet-catholic-enough
- Book: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/saint_joan_se
- All chapters: https://www.betterreads.online/discover/saint_joan_se/chapters