In many modern depictions of her life, St. Joan of Arc is shown to be someone who "heard voices," and who was eventually highly criticized for those voices.
While she certainly did claim to hear various saints speaking to her, she also revealed in her trial that these saints often appeared to her in a visible form.
One of her most constant heavenly companions was St. Michael the Archangel, who began appearing to her in either 1424 or 1425, roughly 600 years ago.
She was 12 or 13 years old at the time, and St. Michael would assist her later when she went forth on the battlefield. (Note, while Michael is an Archangel, he is generally referred to as St. Michael. All holy angels are saints but not all saints are angels! See the reasoning for this here.)
St. Joan's account
Much of what we know about St. Joan of Arc comes from the proceedings of her trial. She was questioned multiple times about her encounters with St. Michael, as her inquisitors wanted to know precisely what she heard or saw.
First of all, she explained, "I do not speak of St. Michael's voice, but of his great comfort."
When pressed further if she saw him with her eyes she said, "I saw them with my bodily eyes as well as I see you; and when they left me, I wept; and I fain would have had them take me with them too."
She also explained how he said to her, "I am Michael, the protector of France."
When pressed further about these visions, the following experience was recorded:
[O]n the first occasion that it was St. Michael who had appeared to her, she answered that the first time she was a young girl and was afraid; since then St. Michael taught her and showed her so many things that she firmly believed it was he.
Asked what doctrine he taught her, she answered that in all things he told her to be a good child and God would help her; and, among other things, he told her she should go to the aid of the King of France.
St. Michael also instructed her what to put on her banner and said, "Take it, from the King of heaven."
St. Joan of Arc is remembered for her extraordinary courage, a courage she received from God, who was with her every step of the way.
