Tattoo's and the clergy?

[2camsam]

I recently went through something in my life that threatened my beliefs, my sanity, my marriage, and my life. Afterward, I wanted something to remind me that I made it out in one piece (and something to rub in the face of the one whose evil influences I’d shunned), so I had the cross from the St. Benedict medal tattooed on my right shoulder. I later showed it to a very conservative retired priest, who loved it and the story behind it and blessed it on the spot. I think intent plays a big part in how a tattoo should be contemplated and applied. I’m not clergy, but I think you get my meaning.

 

[SisterSnowflake]

When I was in NYC for Pope Benedict’s recent visit, I met a gent in my diocesan young adult group who was preparing to enter seminary and had a HUGE and beautiful tattoo of Our Lady of Guadalupe on his arm. I’m not personally a great tattoo fan, but it was really well done and actually looked pretty neat!

 

[musicmantg11]

I wouldn’t suggest getting a tatoo. I would wear a metal or a scapular or other religious symbol. You will need to talk to your Dioscese Religious Vocations Director.

God Bless! +

 

[Chiltepin]

Yeah, what the Sinner said. Outward signs of piety are frowned upon. In other words, don’t be the guy wearing a cassock when nobody else is. Nail holes in the hands and feet…even worse than a cassock in my opinion. I can’t conceive of a situation where anyone would see the one on your chest. If they ever do, you’ve got formation issues that go far beyond tattoos.

I realize this thread is old and that my replying to this old thread might stir up a lot more unnecessary tattoo discussions, but I really couldn’t help it!

“Even worse than a cassock?” What is wrong with wearing a cassock? Perhaps I misunderstood you and you are talking about lay people wearing a cassocks, which would not seem appropriate. I just don’t get it!!!

 

[SenorSalsa]

I was going to get jesus on my chest but I was afraid
people would think it was rob zombie.

Father, I was just about to post that this was the funniest thing I had ever read on CAF, and then you had to go and say:

Your body is a temple?
hmm, mine looks more like a rotunda.

Now I can’t decide

 

[ayet]

I was going to get jesus on my chest but I was afraid
people would think it was rob zombie.

father,

      I admire one priest. then when i enter Convent we see again.

me:do you believe that our body was God’s temple?
Fr.: Yes
me: father we admire you.me and my co- youth of your parish.(look at to his arm)
Fr.: my tatto was worth high price . isn’t nice and beautiful?
me: oh! it is beautiful, if you see us have the same tattoo it is okey to you.
And as i said we admire you, and our body was Gods temple so we will do spray paint inside our parish the same tattoo.
Fr. if you do that i want you to erase that.
me : so God will also say, you must erase that?
my superior down her head :nun2:
Fr.: I will erase it tommorrow.

 

[tkdrummer]

I dont see why tattoo’s and piercings would be a problem for new clergy, i mean im only a young guy but i see that some forms of body modification are becoming more socially acceptable, and i know personally i would connect more on a personal level with a priest that was proud to have his faith tattoo’d on him. maybe if more men of god had tattoos it would bring in more of the younger population that had turned their back on god?

just a thought though.

 

[Chiltepin]

i mean im only a young guy but i see that some forms of body modification are becoming more socially acceptable, and i know personally i would connect more on a personal level with a priest that was proud to have his faith tattoo’d on him. maybe if more men of god had tattoos it would bring in more of the younger population that had turned their back on god?

We should connect with the youth by doing a better job of catechising them, so they don’t fall away in the first place. I see what you are saying, but it seems to me, if a priest had a tattoo out of religious devotion, it should not be highly visible or talked about much. None of this trying to package Catholicism as hip or trendy. Catholicism is a timeless truthfilled religion that should be attractive for that very reason. We don’t want Catholicism to be just a trend to our youth.(says the 23 yr old, not sure who I’m talking about exactly)

Solution: If you really think God is calling you to have a tattoo(I would question that), get your devotional tatts, and then wear a nice cassock.

 

[tampagrl]

Father, I was just about to post that this was the funniest thing I had ever read on CAF, and then you had to go and say:

Now I can’t decide

I thought the exact same thing!

My 2 cents: I personally don’t see anything wrong w/this tatoo idea - as long as it’s respectfully done; I wouldn’t have a problem w/my Priest having one.

 

[KatyElizabeth]

One-post Maud-Dib,
Tattoos are a sign of vanity.

Oh and this, too…
Leviticus 19:28
Do not cut your bodies for the dead, and do not mark your skin with tattoos. I am the Lord.

 

[basenji]

If you’re really intent upon pursuing a vocation to the priesthood you had better get used to doing not what you want, but rather doing that what is God’s will and that which is for the greater glory. It’s very difficult to remove ourselves and the whole “I” concept from our faith journey but it is a crucial part of the self-oblation that a priest makes when he gives himself as a gift to others.

Our church is just finally starting to recover from a generation of men who did what THEY wanted instead of what the church wanted and expected from them. I’m just saying.

And whether or not you pursue a vocation, if you get those stigmata tattoos you will receive a ration from people for the rest of your life.

ps: Fr. Corey, your comments rock!

 

[Anaxionus]

A few things.

First, while there is no teaching allowing for or standing against tattoos, I would agree with the wise advice shared here by various persons: better not to do so, if simply to avoid making yourself a target. Your zeal is commendable, but better to hold off. It would be a completely different story if you were concerned about tattoos you’d accrued in your life, but you were asking about new tattoos (i.e. new action). Don’t pursue it.

Secondly, however, regarding the whole ‘your body is a Temple of the Holy Spirit’ response - For too long this passage has been thrown around; we’ve inherited our commentary on it from Protestant groups (as a former Protestant Bible scholar, I know ). The ‘you’ in 1 Corinthians 6:19 is ‘humwn’ - that is, ‘of you’ . . . plural. This is further illuminated by the context: St. Paul is discouraging believers from taking out lawsuits against one another, and behaving (in communio) like unbelievers. Basically, the you-plural - that is, the Church of Corinth, and by application the local participants in the universal Church - is the Temple of the Holy Spirit.

This is not to say that it wouldn’t be prudent to carefully consider what we do with our individual bodies, as they are indeed gifts from Almighty God. But to use this passage of Sacred Scripture as a denunciation of getting tattoos (or smoking, or drinking, etc.) is irresponsible and dishonest. I’m not berating the original user who quipped this; again, it’s a long, long inheritance that many of us (myself included) have fallen prey to in the past. I’m just going on the record here to correct this bizarre treatment of Sacred Scripture.

pax

 

[GraceDK]

I am quite interested in becoming a priest but i would really like to get a religious tattoo (for example crosses on the inside of my wrists, the nail holes in my hands and feet, the word catholic written across my back, both sides of the medal of St. Benedict with each side one on my chest on my heart and the other opposite on my back, and or the hands of Christ raising the Eucharist with blood dripping into a cup)… I have heard that it is ok to enter into the priesthood with tattoos as it happens quite frequently with those leaving the military who have tat’s and they have no problem… Any definitive answers? suggestions? I have tryed to get in contact with the priest in charge of our diocees vocations but havn’t gotten any replies…?

Your body belongs to Christ. And you are to represent the Church.
Are you willing to give up your body to God and not do your own stuff with it?

Who were you gonna show it to anyway? Yourself in the shower? i dont think celibate men have business enjoying their own bodies in the mirror…

Other people, those whom you be laying down your life for if you are called to be a priest - will maybe feel uncomfortable with it. Where I live, tatoos are a trend right now, and frankly some of us see people with tatoos as being immature and dependant on trends. We also see it as unprofessional, just like pierced tongues and other things which just messes up the beauty of the body as God created it.

 

[englishredrose]

I am quite interested in becoming a priest but i would really like to get a religious tattoo (for example crosses on the inside of my wrists, the nail holes in my hands and feet, the word catholic written across my back, both sides of the medal of St. Benedict with each side one on my chest on my heart and the other opposite on my back, and or the hands of Christ raising the Eucharist with blood dripping into a cup)… I have heard that it is ok to enter into the priesthood with tattoos as it happens quite frequently with those leaving the military who have tat’s and they have no problem… Any definitive answers? suggestions? I have tryed to get in contact with the priest in charge of our diocees vocations but havn’t gotten any replies…?

Why Don’t seem any point to me regardless of whether you want to become a priest or not… Why would you want to abuse your body as thus:shrug:

 

[Ben_Quincy]

Please do not reply to threads over a year old. If the topic is still relevant please begin a new thread.

Thank you.