Tattooed Priest!?

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quasimodo said:
Tatoo … kinda like having a permanent mullet.
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:rotfl:

Looks like I may be in the minority, but I’d spend the money getting rid of the scorpion instead of marking your body again.
Good luck in your discernment!
 
I think a tat would be a great conversation starter for giving a witness to a life reformed for God. We had a priest who rode Harleys before he was ordained. A few parishioners who had bikes would loan him one to ride occasionally on a sunny day and our teens especially loved to see him tooling around town in his clericals. I think with the larger number of men entering seminary later in life we will see more tats, etc in the future.
 
Epistemes said:
Everyone,

I’ve decided to do it. St. Louis Marie de Montfort talks about wearing an iron chain or some semblance to always remind us that we, who complete the total consecration, are slaves to Jesus through Mary; therefore, instead of an iron chain, what better way to show my true devotion than by wearing my faith on myself?
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I know this is an old thread but I wanted to mention that I did the Consecration to Mary last Feast of the Annunciation and it is extrememly difficult for me to wear an iron chain so I want to have one tattooed on my ankle with a golden rose on the top of my foot where it joins and an “M” for Mary above it. I was searching the word ‘tattoo’ to see how other felt about religious tatts and lo and behold–this thread came up with not only religious tatts but the very same reason for my wanting one mentioned in it! I am taking it as a good sign.

Ravyn
 
I have got to admit (and it is my prejudice)…but I do not like tattoos. To me they look tacky and when I see someone with a number of them I think of someone who does not wash regularly. PLEASE…understand I realize this is a prejudice AND I realize some people get them before conversion and so on or as part of their past life and I need to be understanding and I am of that fact.

I would not mark your body (temple of the Holy Spirit) up further. If you do certainly keep it hidden. It may put barriers between you and the people you are trying to reach. Unless you are trying to be a Priest specifically to a tattoo culture (punkers, bikers and so on). Actually I think Jim Bakker’s ( of Jim & Tammy Faye Bakker) son is covered in Tattoos and has a ministry and TV show for Punks (crowd he is trying to reach).

Too many (that are visible) may also cause you some issues with your Bishop. Some here have said they know Priests with Tatoos. I have never met one with a visible tattoo.

Certainly there is a scripture speaking against them but many (even conservative Christians) take that more in reference to pagan practice (condemnation of) rather than tattoos specifically.

Be prayerful and certainly do not take it lightly.

{Plus as people age they just look yuk as they fade and the skin sags}

Rev North
 
Perhaps - if you must get a tattoo - you would consider a Christian image like a cross, fleur-de-lys or sacred heart. With age, the mother of good can become a little saggy and we wouldn’t want that…

I did know a guy who became a priest after years of service in the Marines. When he wears a short-sleeve clerical shirt the “USMC” letters he had tatooed on his forearm show. I think that is kinda cool.
 
BeeSweet said:
What if you were to turn the scorpion into something else? That would be kinda cool, if you could turn it into and image of Our Lady!
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I do not believe that having a tatoo is a bad thing for anyone. Sometimes, like in your situation, its a mistake from the past (the scorpion I mean)…

Yes, you could turn it into something else…or perhaps intermingle it somehow… I was thinking perhaps having Mama Mary stepping on the scorpian (if possible) as a sign of your conquered past. Or at least something like that.

Would like to hear an update!

P.S. I shall also pray for your vocation, whether it be as a consecrated person in the monastatic life or as a diocesan, or even as a layperson.
 
i like the idea of michael or mary stepping on? the scorpion. otherwise, i’d suggest getting the scorpion lightened just enough and then they can cover it with anything. tattoo removal is a process that usually requires several sittings over a year or so span. some tattoo shops even have the means to remove tattoos, but they usually just lighten them enough to fix or cover them. i’m in the process of trying to either cover or convert all my tattoos into more spiritual pieces. it’s a pain, not to mention expensive, but will be so worth it!

good luck!
 
I have discerning my vocation over the last year, I have made contact with the Vocations Director in my Dioceses.

I have a tribal tattoo that covers about 1/2 of my right arm. I also have another tattoo of a tribal dragon on my left shoulder.

First, I wish that I never had these marks put on my body, I was young a dumb.

I know that these marks will be a sign of my previous life for the rest of my life. It pains me greatly every day that I have to look at these marks on my body but everyday I thank God that I have been forgiven for these sins and I don’t let these past sins affect me in a negative way or cause fear during my discernment.

I am so joyful that I found this thread because it reemphasizes the fact that these sins are not a reason to be hindered in my discernment of the priestly vocation.

God Bless!
 
Bunky - I would be quite happy to attend Mass where you were the priest with tattoos showing or not! I think that the Lord is getting quite a chuckle about how petty some of his children have become - we have far more to worry about in our world than a priest who loves the Lord with tattoos;)
 
I am entering the seminary this fall 2012

I am about to get a st. Michael tattoo
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