Early on the morning when the Christ child was born, Mary was tired from labor, and Joseph was out searching for food for his family. The Holy Baby started to cry and nothing seemed to console Him. The stable animals looked worried as they did not know how to quiet the tiny babe. The cat responded, "I think I know what to do." And so the cat crawledinto the crude manger and began purring. The Holy Babe listened to the quiet, happy sound, and fell into a restful sleep.
As a gift, Mary touched the cat on the head, and said "For soothing my baby and purring him to sleep so that I might rest, you shall forever carry my mark."
And that is why today tabbies have an "M" on their heads for all the world to see.
