ONE SHOW. TWO MEN. NO RULES..

WHY MY HUSBAND AND I CANCELLED CHRISTMAS

It’s true. We have cancelled Christmas in our house this year. Well. at least the version of Christmas our boys have been focusing on.

Let me explain. We have not cancelled putting up decorations, celebrating the birth of our Savior, or any of our other heartwarming traditions. But, we have cancelled presents, Santa, and stockings. Their letters to Santa this year will be asking Santa to find someone who needs their presents more than they do.

Here is why – My husband John and I feel like we are fighting a very hard uphill battle with our kids when it comes to entitlement. It is one of the biggest struggles as a parent these days in middle class America. Our kids have been acting so ungrateful lately, and they expect so much even when their behavior is disrespectful. We gave them a warning, either it was time for their behavior to change or there would be consequences. We patiently worked with them for several months and guess what, very little changed. One day after a particularly bad display of entitlement John said, “we should just cancel Christmas.” 

OPEN FORUM AND

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The word ‘secret’ in the Vatican Secret Archives may be the reason for some of the rampant speculation about what goes on in there. But it makes the archive sound much sexier than it is.

The ‘secret’ part of the name comes from the Latin name, the Archivium Secretum Vaticanum. The word secretum has branched in English meaning. On one hand, it can mean “secret” or “hidden.” On the other, it can mean “personal” or “private” (in the sense of private property). This is what the name of the archive actually means—the personal archives of the pope. It is for this very reason that last year, Pope Francis changed its name to the Vatican Apostolic Archive to try and distance it from its reputation.

This already makes them a lot less exciting, I know, even if there are about 50 miles of shelf space in them. They are a treasure trove me as a medievalist, though, if not so much for conspiracy theorists.

1. The Chief Exorcist of the Vatican Performed 100,000+ Exorcisms

Although exorcism is believed to be a practice only seen in horror movies and is the Middle Ages, the practice continues to be alive in the Catholic Church. Father Gabriele Amorth is a late Priest and served as the chief exorcist of the Vatican. He served for 60 years, and is believed to have performed approximately 160,000 exorcisms. The exorcism rite, however, is not just limited to the late chief exorcist. It has been performed by various Popes over the years. In 2018, BBC reported that the Vatican welcomed 250 priests from across the world to an annual workshop.

2. The Vatican Helped Nazi War Criminals Escape the Allied Forces

After the victory of the Allied Forces in Germany to end World War II, the Nazis were forced to seek refuge outside Europe. Thousands of Nazis managed to escape to South American countries, specifically Argentina, Chile, and Brazil.

Harvard researcher Gerald Steinacher wrote a book that shows travel documents pointing to the Vatican having helped the Nazis travel to these countries. Steinacher argues that it was done with the hope of reviving European Christianity and fear of the growing influence of the Soviet Union. The Vatican, however, has refused to comment on these claims.

3. The Vatican Made Money from the Holocaust

In addition to aiding the escape of thousands of Nazis from Europe, the Vatican was also involved in helping smuggle Nazi looted art, golf, and other property belonging to Jewish families. 

Gerald Posner, an American journalist, says that Bernardino Nogara, the financial advisor to the Vatican is believed to have been one of Nazi spies. He is believed to have instituted a horrifying scheme that allowed the Vatican to invest money in Italian insurance companies that kept the assets from the life insurance plans of the murdered Jewish families. Since the Vatican was an investor and not a direct insurer, they did not need to return any of the money made using the scheme.

4. Scandals of the Vatican Bank

The Vatican Bank, also called the Institute for the Works of Religion (IOR) has been involved in numerous scandals. 

The most controversial is their dealing with Hitler. Gerald Posner, a historian, points out that the Vatican received Church Tax from Hitler every year. 

A substantial amount of money was paid to the IOR, so that it cannot be tracked by western banks. The IOR was used to store billions of dollars, the details of which have never been publicly revealed.

5. Vatileaks

A book named ‘His Holiness’ was released in 2012, which is based on the leaked secret papers of Pope Benedict. The private documents were leaked by Benedict XVI's own butler to the author, Gianluigi Nuzzi.

After reviewing these documents, an internal investigation was held. The investigation revealed that individuals who were not from the Vaitcan were blackmailing gay bishops since they had broken their celibacy vows. Pope Benedict CVI went on to resign from the Papacy in 2013 due to this scandal. 

6. The Apostolic Penitentiary

The Apostolic Penitentiary is a secret tribunal that investigates so-called ‘heinous’ crimes of individuals. It was supposedly found in 1179, and was kept secret until 2009. Only the pope can grant absolution to people brought to this tribunal. Examples of sins include attempting to assassinate the pope, a priest exposing the sin or identity of a person who has confessed to them, and so on. The pope acts as the head of this tribunal, and is called the Major Penitentiary, and can either offer absolution, or let the automatic excommunication stand. 

7. Dead Man on Trial

In 897 AD, the Catholic Church put a dead man on trial. Known as the 'Cadaver Synod,' the posthumous trial of Pope Formosus was held by Pope Stephen VI, his successor. Formosus was accused of usurping the papacy,  despite being dead for 7 months by that point. The body of the pope was exhumed, dressed in ecclesiastical attire, and brought to the papal court for judgment. A deacon was even appointed to speak on the dead Pope’s behalf. He was found guilty; all his acts as pope was declared null and void; his body was stripped off the garments and dressed in rags; his three fingers of benediction were cut off and his body was cast into River Tiber, where ancient Romans disposed off their infamous criminals for centuries.  

Conspiracy Theories About the Vatican’s Secret Archives

1. Jesus Does Not Exist

There are reports that the Archives contain communication between Emperor Nero and Saint Paul regarding the existence of Jesus. Some clergy believe that the Vatican is hiding proof that Jesus Christ did not exist. 

2. Evidence of Extraterrestrial Life

Rumors suggest that the Vatican holds proof of the existence of extraterrestrial life, in the form of extraterrestrial skulls. Some sources say that the Archives contain proof that the pope is conspiring extraterrestrial beings to implant everyone on Earth with computer chips. 

3. Three Secrets of Fatima

The controversial Third Secret of Fatima is believed to be a secret document hidden within the Archives. In 1917, three children from Portugal received prophecies, one of which was witnessed by thousands of people. The supposed suppression of this Third Secret fueled rumors that its contents were regarding a nuclear holocaust, natural disaster, and so on. The release of the contents of this Secret in 2000 did not do much to quell speculation. 

4. Home to the Largest Collection of Pornography

Some conspiracy theorists believe that the Vatican Archives contain the largest collection of pornography in the world. Copenhagen’s Museum of Erotica confirms these speculations, in addition to writings by National Review founder William Buckley Jr, and scholar Camilla Paglia. 

5. They are Controlled by the Illuminati

Some people believe that despite their dissolution in the medieval times, the Illuminati has solely built itself up, with its members placed in some of the most powerful positions across the world. One such powerful office is the Vatican, where many of its prominent members are believed to be part of the Illuminati. 

6. It is Home to a Time Machine

Believed to have been built by an Italian scientist and priest, Father Pellegrino Maria Ernetti, the Chronovisor is a device that apparently allows people to view the future and past. Although there is no record of such a device, some people believe it is hidden somewhere in the Archives.

Gratitude helps people create greater happiness and enjoyment for everyday activities. Gratitude improves health and builds strong relationships not just with other people but with one's own self. Gratitude helps us feel more trusting, more social, and deepens our existing relationships. Waking up everyday with a more optimistic approach increases energy to go about your day with more enthusiasm and creates a more welcoming energy for people around you. Completing tasks with a more uplifting attitude can make the menial everyday tasks less overwhelming. To be thankful for everything that is happening now in this moment, makes my life feel more fulfilling. Gratitude allows us to take our time and enjoy what we are creating instead of rushing to get it done. It has a survival value of reciprocity: helping others and being helped in return. Research shows that there are areas of the brain involved in experiencing and expressing gratitude. The fact is: it's a practice. Every moment is a conscious effort and an opportunity to count one’s blessings Everyday, as I inhale my first waking breath I give thanks to the ones before me that fought for the rights I am enjoying today. As I take my first step, I thank the people who protect and heal the earth. As I say my first good morning, I give thanks as I am blessed to be surrounded by company and support. When I dance, it’s a practice of my humility and gratitude, as I give and receive energy. To give back, I try to support and stay aware in order to do my part to leave this world better than I received it for the next generation. When going through a difficult time, the value of gratitude gives me a sense of resilience. It gives me hope and strength to get back on my alignment. Gratitude makes me feel centered, lifted, and grounded. In times like this, in the COVID-19 epidemic, I am grateful for the people that are fighting for the People. I am grateful for the people who choose to become medical experts in-order to defeat this enemy, which is affecting us all, those who are fighting for people politically, even though we have never met. I give my thanks to those who are entertaining people on the internet, keeping people active, healthy, and hopeful. To the backbone of any country I give my biggest gratitude. They are the agriculturists who are still working in order for their nation to be nourished and fed. To every essential employee risking their health and their families' health in order to go to work. I give thanks to humanity.

- Alan Perez