The list of miracles that have taken place at the French Marian shrine in Lourdes now includes, for the first time, an English-speaking soldier.

Chilling rain and the “City of Lights” completely locked down due to high profile guests did not stop the crowds from arriving as close to Notre Dame Cathedral as possible for its inaugural Mass celebrated Dec. 8.

During the Paris Olympic Games, track champions rang the bronze bell located close to the finish line. In December, that same bell will ring in the newly reopened Notre Dame Cathedral during the most sacred part of the Mass.

The opening ceremony of the Paris Olympic Games—a sports festival aimed to unite all nations of the world—created shock and disbelief instead as Catholics around the world felt offended by the parody of the Last Supper, which was part of the opening ceremony.

French deputies began debating a highly permissive “end of life” bill on May 27, despite strong opposition from Catholic bishops and concerns about undermining palliative care.

Record-breaking surge in Easter baptisms reflects shifting religious landscape in France, with increasing numbers of adults and adolescents seeking entry into the Church amidst what many describe as accelerated de-Christianization.

The bishops cried out that “of all European countries, France is the only one where the number of abortions is not decreasing and has even increased over the last two years,” and that France “would have honored itself by instead promoting the rights of women and children.”