Off to the land of Jesus

We have some exciting news! Our master is going to Israel of 10 days.

Oh I'm so excited Cloë! I can't wait to see all the places we hear about every Sunday at Mass and where Jesus lived.

No Tallulah we aren't going just our master.

Well that's no fair. Who is going to look after us while she is gone?

We are going to the Howliday Inn to hang out with Ray.

I really like Ray so I guess that's ok, but I'd rather go with our master. Will she at least write to us and bring us back a treat?

She said she is going to try whenever she can find a computer and the Internet.

What this means for all of you is that you may or may not hear from us over the next couple of weeks. If our master is not able to blog, at least you'll know why.

Why not visit Israel via the internet. Here is a website to checkout.

 

 

 

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Love Your Enemy

Hi Everybody,

We went to a new church this week for Mass, a French church: Ste-Thérèse.

I actually had a bit of trouble understanding Cloë because you know my French is not that good. But I thought I heard Jesus say to love your enemies and to pray for those who are mean to you. That can't be right?!?

Actually Tallulah that is exactly what the Gospel message was this week.

Wow! I love everyone, but I don't know if I could like someone who was mean to me. And then there are those silly cats.

God does not expect you to do this all on your own. You can always ask Him to help you. And the Holy Spirit is there to help as well.

Here is a short little video to help you understand what it means to love your enemies.

(youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=f9EjRwxh2yU)

And of course Jesus is the perfect example of how to love your enemies.
 
What do you mean Cloë?

Well the people nailed Jesus to a cross even though He had done nothing wrong.

And do you know what some of His last words were before He died?

"Father forgive them for they know not what they do."

Double wow! I guess if Jesus can love people that much I can certainly figure out how to get along with a cat.

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Our Lady of Fatima

Tallulah, do you remember the Marian feast we celebrated last week?

I sure do Cloë! It was the feast of Our Lady of Lourdes. It commemorated the appearances of Mary to Saint Bernadette. Why do you ask?

Well today we remember another Marian feast - sort of. It is the day we remember Blessed Jacinta and Francisco Marto.

Who are they Cloë?

They are the brother and sister that Mary appeared to, just like Bernadette. (There cousin Lucia was with them as well.) These three lived in the country of Portugal about 100 years ago.

 

Francisco was only 9 years old and Jacinta 7 when they saw Mary. Mary asked them to return to the same spot on the thirteenth of each month for the next six months (May 13, 1917 to October 13, 1917). She also asked them to learn to read and write and to pray the rosary “to obtain peace for the world and the end of the war.”

Wow Cloë that is so exciting. And they were just little kids!

It is Tallulah. But like Bernadette, at first the people did not believe them and made fun of them. But eventually the people came to believe. In fact, 90,000 people showed up on October 13, 1917 at Mary's last apparition.

Unfortunately Francisco and Jacinta died just a few years later. They were only 10 and 11 years old.

Are they Saints, Cloë?

Not yet Tallulah. But they are Blessed, which means there is just one more step to go before they are Saints.

So Jesus wants even little kids to be Saints, right Cloë?!

Right Tallulah. God can do amazing things no matter who you are or how old you are. You just have to let Him.

Today there is a giant church in Fatima. Click here to go on a virtual visit.

Finally, we wanted to update you on our friend Alex. He is doing much better. He has started the final phase of his treatment. Soon this whole cancer thing should be behind him.

Hi Alex!! We can't wait to see you at church again. We have some new wrestling moves to show you.

That's it for now! Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Rules are Not a Bad Thing

Yesterday's readings at Mass sure sounded like just a whole bunch of rules Cloë! I don't like rules.

Whoa there Tallulah, rules are a good thing. If there were no rules there would be chaos.

For instance, if we did away with all the stop signs and the traffic lights and the other road signs, can you imagine how many accidents there would be every day! People would get hurt and maybe even die.

Well I guess you are right, for traffic. But I still don't like rules.

Well what if there were no rules in sports, how would we ever know when the game was over and who won.

Ok maybe rules are good for traffic and sports.

Now let's look at you and me. What if our master let us do whatever we wanted.

Now you're talking.

We would probably be sick or at least very fat if she let us eat whatever and whenever we wanted.

And if she let us run all over the neighbourhood we would probably end up being hit by a car.

Well I guess maybe rules are not all bad.

Exactly Tallulah! And that is why God gives us rules. He loves us and wants us to be safe and His rules tell us how. He does not force us to follow his rules.

Our challenge to you is for the rest of the day, you need to find 3 rules that mom and dad have that are there to keep you safe and happy. Let us know what you come up with.

Here is a short prayer that was part of Sunday's Psalm (119) to help you recognize the goodness of God's rules.

Open my eyes and I shall fix my gaze on the wonders of your Law.

Teach me, Yahweh, the way of your will, and I will observe it.

Give me understanding and I will observe your Law, and keep it wholeheartedly.

Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Happy Valentine!

Hi Everybody!
 
We hope you are having a great Valentine's day.
 

 
 
We spent the morning playing in the snow while our master shoveled her driveway - hee! hee!
 

 
Hey Cloë, what the heck is Valentine's day?
 
Well Tallulah, it's the day when we tell people how much we love them. And often you give them chocolate or flowers!
 

 
What about a dog bone?! Maybe our master will bring us each one, I hope.
 

 
Did you know Tallulah that there actually is a Saint Valentine. Here is a short video that tells his story.
 

 

youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CaRgHQjC1WE

 
Why not make a Valentine and give it to someone you love. Here are three different ideas.
 

 

Catholic Icing

 

 

(Catholic Inspired)

 

 

 
These are my favourite ideas Cloë - I love cookies and chocolate - though I'm not sure about the strawberries. Click here for many delicious Valentine recipes.
 
I love you Cloë!

I love you too Tallulah!

And we love you all! Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah
 
 
 

Our Lady of Lourdes

Hi Everybody!

We are sorry that we have not written lately, our master, who is also our secretary, has been too caught up in the Olympics.

Have you been watching the Olympics? It's very exciting watching our Canadian athletes do so well!

Today (February 11) is a very special day, it is the day that we remember Our Lady of Lourdes.

Who is Our Lady of Lourdes, Cloë?

It's another name that we use for Mary. The Lourdes part refers to the place where Mary appeared to a young girl named Bernadette.

Wow, you mean Bernadette actually got to see Mary with her very own eyes?!

That's right Tallulah. The first appearance by Mary was February 11, 1858. Mary continued to appear to Bernadette for 6 months. Bernadette was eventually declared a saint.

(youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2f7SjY1hRnY)

Today is also the World Day of the Sick.

This is very appropriate since millions of people go to Lourdes every year, many of them hoping to be healed (there have been many miracles at Lourdes).

A few things you can do to mark this special day.

1. Take a virtual tour of Lourdes! (http://en.lourdes-france.org/)

2. Say a special prayer for someone you know that is sick.

3. Go and see the movie Bernadette (it's on at the Port Theatre at 132 Montreal Road in Cornwall, it starts at 7:15 pm)

4. Make your own grotto. Click here for directions: http://www.smartmartha.com/Pages/LadyofLourdesCraft.aspx

Well that's it for today!

Woof! Canada Woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

The Last Day of Christmas

Wait a minute Cloë I think you are trying to fool me and everyone else! I thought you said Christmas ended a few weeks ago with the baptism of Jesus?!

Well it did Tallulah, sort of. There are some in the Church who see this past Sunday as the official end of Christmas. Up until a few years ago, the Vatican kept their tree and crèche up until February 2nd.

So what is it about this day that says we are still in Christmas?

February 2nd is the feast of the Presentation of Jesus at the temple.

What?!

Let's read the Gospel story since it explains everything.

It was a rule among the Jews that the first boy child born to a family was to be taken to the Temple in Jerusalem. There his parents would make an offering to the Lord, to show that the child belonged to the Lord.  

When Jesus was forty days old, Joseph and Mary brought Him to the Temple. As an offering Joseph brought a pair of young pigeons to place upon the altar of the Temple.

Click here to read the rest of the story.

Cloë, I also heard Fr. Jerome say that today's feast is very much connected to the importance of family.

Here are two easy ways to help you remember this important event in Jesus young life.

Visit the Catholic Inspired blog to download these pictures and you can act out the story.

The second thing you can do is colour this picture of Mary, Joseph and Baby Jesus. Then 
you can hang it on the wall of your bedroom. Click here to download the picture.

That's it for today - woof!

Cloë and Tallulah

Parents if you would like to know more about this feast day, here is a good video that tells the story and explains all about this Jewish tradition. 

(youtube link: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ne9P-I90thE)