Both France and Spain have been hit by horrific wildfires this summer, causing extensive damage to wildlife and even threatening major cities like Bordeaux.
One sign of hope however has emerged in Gironde.
Amidst the wreckage and destruction, a wooden Cross surviving the destruction in an image that has gone viral.
Pope Leo XIV and Andrea Bocelli will host a concert together this evening entitled ‘Canticle for Peace’.
The event will take place at Castel Gandolfo and is part of the celebrations for the 800th anniversary of the death of Saint Francis of Assisi.
Children from 164 countries will sing at the event.
Just Sayin’ #26 CA3 by George Knight
“Where There’s Life There’s Hope”
Dear Friends,
Faithful Christians find little difficulty with this old saying. Yet its roots are older than Christianity. The ancient Greek poet Theocritus (3rd century BCE) expressed something very similar: “While there’s breath in a man, there’s Hope.”
Centuries later, the Catholic poet Alexander Pope wrote, “Hope springs eternal in the human breast.”
In 2007, Pope Benedict XVI explored this theme deeply in his encyclical Spe Salvi (“Saved in Hope”). Reflecting on St Paul’s words “In Hope we were saved” (Romans 8:24), Benedict showed that the whole Christian message is contained in this proclamation of Hope — indeed, of “Hope beyond hope.”
Two great insights emerge.
First, there are two kinds of Hope: the Great Hope and the smaller, everyday hopes.
Second, for the Christian, Faith and Hope are inseparable. To believe in Jesus Christ is to Hope.
The Great Hope is that there is a life beyond this earthly one — a life where justice, mercy, peace and love reign forever. Christ taught us that Heaven is real. It is not a pious wish but a reality to be sought and hoped for with all our hearts.
Because this Hope rests entirely on Faith in the Word of God made flesh, and on the Revelation entrusted to the Church, Christian Faith and Christian Hope are one and the same.
For believers, therefore, the saying “Where there’s life, there’s Hope” rests on firm ground.
For others, however, it is far less certain. Whether life brings Hope depends on what we choose to believe, how we choose to live, and which God — or which idol — we ultimately follow.
In the end, every human being faces the same fundamental choice: life or death, “to be or not to be.” We should therefore choose deliberately, choose wisely, and choose well.
Until next Thursday — in friendship and Prayer,
God bless,
George K.
Restore God’s Kingdom
www.restoregodskingdom.ie
The 3rd Annual Dublin Eucharistic & Marian Procession will take place on August 16th.
Catholics from across Ireland will publicly witness to Christ through the streets of Dublin City Centre.
1️⃣6️⃣ *August (Sunday)*, 2026
⛪ *Start: 2:30pm – St Nicholas of Myra Church, Francis Street (D08 C7W7)*
✝️ *Finish: Holy Mass at 5:00pm – St Andrew's Church, Westland Row (DO2W274)*
*Everyone is welcome – individuals, families, young and old. Come and Walk with Christ in Dublin!*
🌐 More information: croiiosa.com
There has been huge controversy in Seville over the past number of weeks over plans to build a Mosque in Seville.
Fundación Mezquita de Sevilla is hoping to build a large Mega Mosque for long term use.
This design includes a large prayer hall, a 30-meter minaret, classrooms, a library, and public spaces.
Controversially, it has been slated for being built in Polígono Sur, an economically deprived area.
Vox have been leading the efforts to have the project stopped, organising rallies and opposition in legislation to the move.
Vox have threatened to remove local support for the PP party in retaliation for their advocacy of the Mosque.
Polígono SurEl PP pidió el voto para cambiar Sevilla. A la primera decisión importante, hace exactamente lo que habría hecho la izquierda y se escuda en que “es un terreno privado”.
— Santi Perdomo (@sperdomoloma) July 28, 2026
Gobernar no es buscar excusas. Es defender a tus vecinos cuando más importa.
Los sevillanos tomarán nota. pic.twitter.com/4ObGar3KQF
‼️ El gobierno del PP se ha posicionado de espaldas a los vecinos del Polígono Sur y ha terminado aprobando la licencia de obras para la mezquita, que no es legal y se salta a la torera el PGOU.
— VOX Sevilla capital (@VOX_SevCapital) July 28, 2026
👉 Vamos a presentar un recurso de alzada y llamaremos a las puertas de los… pic.twitter.com/cWNvbddETh
El pueblo sevillano ha hablado alto y claro en la manifestación de hoy por la futura mezquita.
— Santi Perdomo (@sperdomoloma) July 27, 2026
Cientos de vecinos han dicho NO al Islam en su barrio. pic.twitter.com/B8Zg5PgOjJ
In the wake of Charlie Kirk’s assassination last September, many videos and reports emerged claiming that Charlie Kirk was thinking of converting to Catholicism.
Bishop Joseph Brennan states in a video that Charlie Kirk told him that he was ‘very close’ to converting, not long before his death.
Bishop Joseph Brennan on Charlie Kirk pic.twitter.com/smDBJY8DGS
— Angel (@MediaVita33) July 27, 2026
On Sunday, Mayo broke a 75 year ‘curse’ to become All Ireland Football champions for the first time since 1951.
The curse was allegedly placed on the team that had just won that title, with a priest apparently stating that they would not win again until all members of the team had died after they were said to have disrespected a funeral that they passed on the way.
11 final defeats and their first final since the last member of the team died and many think that there was some merit to it.
On the evening of their win, Knock Shrine was lit up in their colours to celebrate their historic win.
Knock Shrine lit up in Green and Red to celebrate Mayo winning in the All Ireland Final for the first time in 75 years pic.twitter.com/0u3lnuovFE
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 27, 2026
Since the start of this month, Pope Leo XIV has been enjoying his holiday time in Castel Gandolfo.
That period is now over as he has returned to the Apostolic Palace.
🚨 Pope Leo XIV has FINISHED his holiday and has returned to the Apostolic Palace pic.twitter.com/cLKW4qr4AP
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 27, 2026
Former Sinn Fein MEP Martina Anderson has admitted have a baby destroyed by an abortionist.
Anderson said on RTE:
It was the hardest decision of my life. It was the most painful decision in my life. It didn’t strengthen me making that decision. In fact, it broke me but I was not for letting my comrades down
Evidently, her own Irish flesh and blood at their most vulnerable was not considered a ‘comrade’.
Her pain is contrasted with the excitement of her party’s leader Mary Lou McDonald, who was ecstatic last month after voting to remove the three day wait for abortion in Ireland, a move that will lead to thousands of more abortions per year.
The Parish of Medjugorje has released a statement on last night’s violent anti Catholic terrorist attack at the pilgrimage site.
It is with great sadness that we received the news of the act of vandalism that damaged the prayer areas in our parish. We immediately began cleaning and repairing the damage so that all areas would be properly prepared for the prayer again. We thank all those who, with their work and selfless help, participate in ensuring that the sanctuary remains a place of encounter with God, a place of peace, and a place where the Blessed Virgin Mary, Queen of Peace, is honored.
In a special way, we invite all faithful to respond to this event in the way that Our Lady has been teaching us for over forty years in Medjugorje: with prayer, fasting, and forgiveness. We pray for the conversion of the hearts of those who committed this act, that the Lord may touch them with His grace and lead them on the path of goodness. We also pray for peace in the hearts of all people. Our Lady constantly invites us to be carriers of peace. May this event encourage us to take her invitation even more seriously: not to return evil for evil, but to witness love, forgiveness, and hope with our lives.
The shrine remains open to all pilgrims. The prayer program is taking place regularly, and all the spaces are being rapidly cleaned and prepared so that they can once again be a place of prayer and encounter with the Lord through the intercession of the Queen of Peace.
The annual Medjugorje Youth Festival, which takes place each year, will proceed later this week despite last night’s terrorist attack.
The youth festival regularly attracts tens of thousands of young people from all across the world and in recent years has featured high profile speakers such as Cardinal Sarah.
Repair works have started at Medjugorje after last night's terrorist attack. pic.twitter.com/nkqxtMYSfw
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 28, 2026
Footage and images have emerged of the anti Catholic terrorist in Medjugorje being arrested for setting an altar on fire and covering statues of Our Lady in black paint.
He is believed to be Polish.
MEDJUGORJE
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 28, 2026
The first images of the anti Catholic terrorist who set fire to an altar and covered statues in anti Catholic graffiti at Medjugorje last night pic.twitter.com/Kng3rTVzYi
MEDJUGORJE
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 28, 2026
The DRAMATIC moment police arrested the anti Catholic TERRORIST who attacked MEDJUGORJE, setting an altar on fire and writing anti Catholic graffiti pic.twitter.com/XBhIjqlKqP
More shocking images from Medjugorje.
CCTV footage shows images of the terrorist attack on the Church of Saint James at the pilgrimage site.
MEDJUGORJE
— Catholic Arena (@CatholicArena) July 28, 2026
Footage of last night's anti Catholic terrorist attack in Medjugorje
In this clip you can see the altar being SET ON FIRE by the terrorist who also covered the area in black paint on statues and anti Catholic graffiti pic.twitter.com/P5ogY8ORbo
Medjugorje was targeted last night by anti Catholic vandals.
The vandals wrote slogans such as ‘Our Lady is the Devil. Only Jesus’.
They also painted the statue of Our Lady of Medjugorje with black paint.
The altar at the Church of Saint James was also set on fire.
Whatever one's views on the apparition, this was clearly intended as an attack on Catholics and on Our Lady.
3 women have been stabbed in Paris, in a shocking daylight attack today.
The man told people afterwards that ‘Allah told me to do it’.
Two of the women are in critical condition.
« C’est Allah qui m’a ordonné. »
— Bruno Attal (@Bruno_Attal_) July 27, 2026
Attaque au couteau à Paris porte de Clichy. 3 blessés dont un en urgence absolue.
On va nous dire que c’est psychiatrique vous verrez ! pic.twitter.com/Kbfrg9xulf
During a Pride event in Berlin this past weekend, dozens of people were badly injured and at least one person killed when a Muslim terrorist rammed the event with his car and then started stabbing.
Abdul Ballout, the terrorist, has since been shot dead by police.
The politically inconvenient nature of Abdul’s identity has caused upset for one speaker at a vigil for the victims.
Junge Sängerin lässt auf der Gedenkfeier zum islamistischen Anschlag auf den CSD die Maske fallen: sie habe gehofft, dass es „kein Kanake, sondern eine christliche(!), weiße Person“ war, die mit dem Auto in Menschen fuhr. „Intersektionalität“ und so. Irre. pic.twitter.com/zO3cJwRdWN
— Julian Adrat (@JulianAdrat) July 26, 2026
In Lebanon this past Saturday, the beatification ceremony for Patriarch Elias Hoayek took place in Lebanon.
It was attended by thousands.
In an article in Vatican News today, a Catholic priest in the Holy Land has raised the alarm about continued attacks on Christians in the West Bank.
Fr. Ibrahim Faltas, Head of Schools of the Custody of the Holy Land, writes starkly:
Parents are unable to bring children who need regular medical treatment to hospitals. Sons and daughters cannot reach their elderly and sick parents. Fathers are stopped at roadblocks that prevent them from going to work. These are situations that have persisted for months, even years, in the West Bank.
The people are desperate and terrified by the countless raids carried out by settlers who, with impunity, are able to spread fear and terror among the poor people, who can no longer find refuge or safety even in their own homes.
You can read the full interview here.
On July 26th 2016, millions of young people at World Youth Day in Krakow were greeted by the shocking news that Fr. Jacques Hamel had been murdered by ISIS as he prepared to celebrate Mass at his church in Normandy.
The two terrorists who killed him had been monitored by authorities but were able to slip through the cracks.
During the attack, one of the perpetrators handed a nun a phone and told her to record the murder.
He asked the nun if she was scared. She answered ‘no’. Curious, the terrorist asked her why not. The nun answered that she trusted in Jesus. The terrorist then stated that ‘Jesus was just a man’.
This strange anecdote, during a wider period which saw the terror at the Bataclan and Nice, gets to a deeper spiritual aspect than one would learn from headlines.
The 86-year-old French priest Jacques Hamel, murdered by Islamic terrorists 10 years ago while celebrating Mass, was remembered in Normandy on July 26.
— Paulina Guzik (@Guzik_Paulina) July 26, 2026
Roseline Hamel, his sister, who is 86 today, with Cardinal Jean-Marc Aveline, Archbishop Dominique Lebrun of Rouen, and former…
