Cardinal Newman Added to General Roman Calendar

Saint John Henry Newman has been added to the General Roman Calendar as an optional memorial.

Cardinal Newman was declared a Doctor of the Church last November.

His Feast Day is October 9th.

A statement on the Vatican’s website reads:

The kindly light of God’s grace, which came into this world to enlighten the gentiles (cf. Lk 2: 32), led John Henry Newman to find peace in the Catholic Church and gave him such strength that he was able to say “God has created me to do Him some definite service … I have a part in this great work; I am a link in a chain, a bond of connexion between persons. He has not created me for naught”. Throughout his long life Cardinal Newman was unstinting in this service to which he had been called. The service of intellectual enquiry; the service of preaching and teaching; as well as service to the poor and the least.

His lively mind has left us enduring monuments of great importance in the fields of theology and ecclesiology, as well as poetic and devotional compositions. His constant search to be led out of shadows and images into the fullness of the truth has become an example for every disciple of the Risen One. Thus, in a special way, Saint John Henry, having been recognized as a radiant light for the Church on pilgrimage through history, may rightly be numbered among the other saintly Doctors inscribed in the General Roman Calendar.

For this reason, considering the recent declaration of the title of Doctor of the Church which has been conferred upon a saintly pastor of such outstanding significance for the entire community of the faithful, the Supreme Pontiff Pope LEO XIV has decreed that Saint John Henry Newman, Priest and Doctor of the Church, be inscribed in the General Roman Calendar, and that his Optional Memorial be celebrated by all on 9 October.

This new Memorial is to be inserted into all Calendars and Liturgical Books for the celebration of Mass and the Liturgy of the Hours, adopting the liturgical texts attached to the present decree, which are to be translated, approved, and—after confirmation by this Dicastery—published by the Conferences of Bishops.

Epstein Mocked Catholics in Released Files

There are many common themes to be analysed in the newly released files belonging to Jeffrey Epstein.

One of the most common is his contempt for Christians and Catholics, though with occasional interest in church affairs, particularly concerning the hierarchy and politics.

In one email, he lambasts the church for believing that ‘All lives are equal’.

Jeffrey Epstein said that the idea that 'every life is equal' is 'Catholicism at its worst'

The statement is found in emails released this week pic.twitter.com/3o6LkVjesj

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) February 1, 2026

Others include jokes about Catholics.

The Jeffrey Epstein Files contain many crude anti Catholic jokes

In one, his brother jokes about a man converting on his deathbed because it is better if Catholics die 'instead of one of =s' pic.twitter.com/1TAh9sG1w9

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) February 3, 2026

In another, he is offered a viewing of the anti Catholic artwork ‘Piss Christ’.

Jeffrey Epstein was offered a viewing of anti Catholic 'artwork' known as 'Piss Christ'

'Artist' Andres Serrano laughed about the fact that Catholics would be there to protest against the Crucifix soaked in urine pic.twitter.com/SeBHxQQS5X

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) February 3, 2026

SSPX and Vatican Talks 'Ongoing' to 'Avoid Rupture'

Yesterday, the internet exploded with astonishment after the Society of Saint Pius X (SSPX) announced that they intended to consecrate new bishops in July.

In a statement, the SSPX said that they had appealed to the Holy Father Pope Leo XIV for a meeting in August but that that had not been granted, with a recent communication from the Holy See leading to them seeking to consecrate bishops in Switzerland during the summer.

In an update today, veteran Vatican journalist Diane Montagna has offered further insight, suggesting that talks are continuing:

UPDATE: In comments to me today regarding yesterday’s news that the SSPX intends to proceed with episcopal ordinations in July, Vatican spokesman Matteo Bruni said: “Contacts between the Society of Saint Pius X and the Holy See are ongoing, with the aim of avoiding ruptures or… https://t.co/DotZU87j25

— Diane Montagna (@dianemontagna) February 3, 2026

This Too Shall Pass

Dear Friends,

‘This too shall pass’, reminds us that joy and sorrow pass through our lives like clouds.

Rooted in 13th-century Persian Sufi poetry, this saying, linked to poets like Rumi, has spread across cultures, offering a serene trust in life’s ebb and flow. It lifts our eyes beyond the moment, promising that today’s burdens will soften with time.

Historians recall its use in a medieval court, where a King sought a truth for all seasons. Advised with ‘This too shall pass’, he learned to balance highs and lows—a lesson echoing into our restless world.

Abraham Lincoln, when asked for a universal truth, is said to have offered these words, underscoring their enduring power—a thread connecting ancient wisdom to our lives.

Picture Caspar David Friedrich’s ‘Wanderer above the Sea of Fog’: a solitary figure standing amid swirling mists, as depicted below. This image mirrors the saying’s essence—whether it’s a spilled coffee, a family rift, or a career setback, the fog lifts.

Modern life, with its frantic pace, finds solace in this wisdom, reflected in meditative practices that echo Stoic wisdom, building on last week’s ‘It is what it is’.

Yet, it’s more than mere waiting. ‘This too shall pass’; invites Grace in endurance, then action when clarity returns. It’s the quiet strength to acknowledge a lost opportunity or a tech glitch, then step forward with hope. This timeless insight builds resilience for today’s uncertainties.

As you read this post, take a moment. What storms have you seen fade—a health scare, a tough year—that now feel distant?

Let those memories ease your heart.

Until next Thursday,

God bless,

George K

Restore God’s Kingdom

www.restoregodskingdom.ie

Nigeria Players Wear Christian Wristbands at AFCON

Nigerian Christians have been in the news for all the wrong reasons lately, thanks to the growing tragedy of persecution against them.

At the AFCON football tournament, their national team recorded a 2-0 win over Algeria in the Quarter Finals.

Two of their players, Victor Osimhen and Akor Adams, wore wristbands with Crosses on them.

The move has earned praise from many online, who see it as a move of solidarity with the Christians in Nigeria.

Bible Sales SOAR in England and Wales

There have been numerous studies over the last few years that claim that a ‘quiet revival’ of Christianity is taking place in England and Wales.

This mostly relates to surveys and anecdotes of young people attending church in higher numbers, specifically in London and other metropolitan areas.

The numbers of young people attending church in the UK has QUADRUPLED pic.twitter.com/7cFrW4Uc5q

— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) April 21, 2025

Now, new statistics point to a very clear and tangible proof that something interesting is happening.

A study by Christian publisher SPCK Group, using Nielsen Bookscan, showed Bible sales up 11% in 2025.

This follows a continuous trend since 2019, with Bible sales rising 134% since then.

What is to explain this?

Lockdown may have played a part, a reaction to woke and relativist culture also but perhaps maybe, it is simply the grace of God at work.

Long may it continue.