My Tattoo.

[Loren_1of6]

So if it is a reminder for you alone, why put it under your arm where you can’t see it? Why not have it put upside down on your belly so you can read it when you look down? Or you could have it printed in mirror writing on your chest so you can read it when you look in the mirror.

 

[donmaximuso27]

If you truly feel that the tattoo will benefit you in the spiritual life, and if you know that no harm will be done to your body when getting the tattoo (i.e. unsterilized needles, HIV, etc.), then the Church does not prohibit you from getting a tattoo. Quite frankly, any person on this thread who is trying to persuade you that it is a wrong and sinful act is fulling themselves. The Church is clear that tattoos only become sinful when they do damage to the body, which may be the case if done in a non-professional manner. It may also become a sinful act if it is a mark of pride; however, you have already indicated this will not be the case. There is historical evidence of early Christians marking themselves with crosses, as well as Crusaders doing the same. Overall, if you are getting a tattoo from a professional parlor, and if it is not of a sinful/pagan image/word, then a tattoo is allowed for a Catholic.

 

[grandfather]

1. I don’t think of this as a religious act. I think of it as a personal development with a religious tone.

That is not real clear. It sounds like you are hoping to do something religious, something religiously meaninglul to you personally. How is it not a religious act?

1. NEVER did I ever say that I thought I was bringing grace to myself by getting a tattoo. You grossly misread what I wrote and frankly I’m offended because I don’t think that at all.

I am dense. I miss your point. You are doing something related to religion in some way, but it has nothing to do with grace. Do you think that is possible?

1. God isn’t telling me not to tattoo myself either. He gave me my body as my own, and I can tattoo it whether you or the Pope likes it or not. (I wonder if Benedict has one?! )

I see. So your body does not belong to God. You are not His. You have your private property and He has His. Your body is outside His jurisdiction. You can do with it as you please. It belongs to you and He has no claim on it. That is clearly what you are saying. It is your private business, but you are going to put His name on it.

1. It’s not “some saying in Arabic”. It’s the Jesus Prayer. As you may or may not know, it’s one of the oldest prayers of our faith. Arabic has a personal meaning to me as well seeing as I’m learning it and I prefer the prayer’s meaning in Arabic as opposed to the English translation: they differ.

I am truly interested. Would you please try to give a translation in English that conveys the meaning you like better.

]5) Again, as I read over what you’ve written, I see that you aren’t listening clearly to why I am contemplating getting one. It is incredibly ignorant and, in fact, pathetic and stupid for someone to think that if they tattoo themself with a prayer, they will receive grace. That’s not why I’m doing this. The reason I’m doing this (let me state again, for the fifth time!):
The meaning of the prayer (Lord Jesus Messiah, have mercy on me, the sinner) shows ME, myself, I when I look at it that I am nothing. I can do nothing without Him because I am a sinner. And I’m so weak and forgetful and sinful, that I find it prudent to mark this on my body to remember it. Is that wrong? /

I really did hear you. I don’t know for certain that what you are contemplating is wrong, sinful. It might be and I don’t think you know either, or you would not ask the question.

What should we do in situations that we do not know what is right or wrong? How should we act?

Let’s assume you got in your car in the parking lot of the local school. You start the engine and put the transmission in reverse. You glance in the mirror and think you might have seen a flash. It might have been a kid on a tricycle or chasing a ball. It also might have been nothing, a reflection from another car’s chrome grill. You are not sure. Should you hit the gas? It might not have been a kid.

You seem to think that grace is not relevant to the discussion. You agree that a tatoo will not gain grace and say that grace has nothing to do with the proposition. Its just something you think will be personally meaningul to you as it relates to your religious faith or spiritual development. This could be where the flaw in thinking is.

I am not sure that we can do anything in life that is grace neutral. I don’t mean that it matters whether I have Corn Flakes or a muffin for breakfast. I don’t mean it matters if I wear a green or blue shirt today. I mean when we do something with intent. Jesus says we will be judged by every word that comes out of our mouths. Every single thing we say will matter and bear on our eternity. I am in big trouble. A tatoo is a statement.

Your intention is noble. There is no question, but I don’t think the contemplated action of permanently marking yourself, no matter what it is, can be grace neutral. Saint Maximillian said that everything we do either moves us closer to God or moves us away. If he is right and you agree that a tatoo will not gain grace there is only one other option.

You asked for opinions. That is why you posted. You have to expect to get them and you might not like what you hear.

How about taking a suggestion. Take a break. Be like the guy in the car who saw the flash in the mirrior. Don’t move. Let some time go by. See if this is so important to you later on, next year at Easter time.

You have asked total strangers on this forum their opinions. Do you have a spiritual advisor? Have you asked a spiritual guide about this? How about other people in your life who care about you, like family. What do they think? Have you asked, or were you just planning on surprising them or never telling them? The answers to those questions would tell you something important.

 

[donmaximuso27]

God has an infinite number of ways to share His gift of grace with us. We know of seven sure ways in the Sacraments of the Church. We also know of prayer, intercession of the saints, the petitions of family of friends, etc. There are countless ways of recieving the gift of grace. At the end of each day, many of us will reflect on certain situations and realize that they indeed were moments when God gave us His grace. However, only that individual and God will truly know if it was an act of grace. No one has a right to judge whether or not it was an act of grace, outside of the sacraments of course.

Bottom line, for this person, looking at a tattoo everyday of the Jesus prayer, in a language this individual admires, may remind him of how to live a life that is an imitation of Christ. It may remind him to live to glorify God and to truly be His servant. This may indeed be a grace. Only this individual can know for sure. No one here has a right to say that this tattoo cannot be a way of grace.

 

[grandfather]

Only this individual can know for sure. No one here has a right to say that this tattoo cannot be a way of grace.

The individual said that he knows that this will not be a means of grace. Read his post. He said something like, only an idiot would think a taoo would bring grace.

 

[scapularkid8]

The individual said that he knows that this will not be a means of grace. Read his post. He said something like, only an idiot would think a taoo would bring grace.

In the context of Sacraments which you had stated I thought my tattoo would be an eighth sacrament. Certainly there is a different degree of different graces given by God in the Sacraments than through Sacramentals and/or prayer. This is the distinction that has to be made. I never said it couldn’t or wouldn’t give me grace in the sacramental sense, but earlier i was merely referring to the level of grace distributed by a Sacrament…

thank you for twisting my words, it was a refreshing brain teaser there for a second

 

[ChrisWRIT]

Tattoos in & of themselves, are not prohibited by the Church. (Bodily mutilation is, but tattoos are not mutilation.)

In fact, it is thought that the mark Cain received from God was “probably a tattoo.”

vatican.va/archive/ENG0839/_P6.HTM

As you note in the OP, the content & intent are what can make tattoos sinful, such as a depiction of something morally wrong, or in opposition to God. IMHO, I find it hard to believe that getting a tattoo of the Lords Prayer would qualify as “morally depraved”, or in opposition to God.

In regards to tattoos, I would only recommend pray about it, & be sure of your decision first. It is important to remember that they are permanent - at least in the sense of this physical life.

(After the resurrection of the body, I have NO idea whether a tattoo would remain. I suspect not, as morally unacceptable tattoos would likely be purged, while acceptable ones would not be necessary. After all, if we’re in heaven with God, why would we need a crucifix tattoo to remind us of Him?)

Just my :twocents:,

Cheers,

Chris

 

[Isa_Almisry]

Also to answer the concerns of people who have said that others will not see the Christian message of the tattoo:

I’m not getting it in a place that will be visible to anyone during work or even while I have a shirt on. It’s going to be on my side on the ribs under the armpit in an inconspicuous place. It’s not for advertising at all, it’s for me. And I’m sure since I don’t look Arab or Muslim (not that they have a “look”, but most Muslims are Arab ),

Actually Arabs are a minority, only about a fifth, of the world’s Muslims. India has more Muslims than the biggest Arab country, Indonesia is the largest Muslim country, the sub-continent the largest Muslim area.

 

[Isa_Almisry]

If you truly feel that the tattoo will benefit you in the spiritual life, and if you know that no harm will be done to your body when getting the tattoo (i.e. unsterilized needles, HIV, etc.), then the Church does not prohibit you from getting a tattoo. Quite frankly, any person on this thread who is trying to persuade you that it is a wrong and sinful act is fulling themselves. The Church is clear that tattoos only become sinful when they do damage to the body, which may be the case if done in a non-professional manner. It may also become a sinful act if it is a mark of pride; however, you have already indicated this will not be the case. There is historical evidence of early Christians marking themselves with crosses, as well as Crusaders doing the same. Overall, if you are getting a tattoo from a professional parlor, and if it is not of a sinful/pagan image/word, then a tattoo is allowed for a Catholic.

I just noticed your sig: I have the Jerusalem Cross tattooed on my wrist.

 

[Roza]

Probably 13 to 15 yrs ago already (already???) I got a tatoo of a unicorn. It was when I was still a new ager & fallen away Catholic. The tat never was finished either… never was colored in. Is it ok that I still have it? I remember that scripture verse too. But I used to sooo much love unicorns, any horse, Pegasus, etc. I used to hang out with the biker crowd back then too… No, never was on a motorcycle, just hung out with the crowd.

 

[Pro_Domina]

Many holy martyrs in Egypt have died with a cross tattooed on their right wrist. It’s a tradition that’s always impressed me because they can’t deny their faith even under persecution - the visible mark is always there.

Not only in Egypt, put also in India and probably in others too.

But that is a fruit of the richness of the Church. Your tattoo is a fruit of this immoral world.