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I’m thinking of getting a tattoo and would like to get authoritative answers to the following questions:
1. What does Catholic think of tattoos?
2. Are there any images or text that are not allowed to be tattooed?
3. Are there any texts or images that are good to be tattooed?
4. Are there any body parts that those things should not be tattooed on?
The Church does not think that all tattoos are evil. There are circumstances and guidelines to follow. Here’s a guideline of questions to ask yourself before getting a tattoo.
http://www.cuf.org/faithfacts/details_view.asp?ffid=233
I know you did not ask, but have you considered the cost as well? A really good artist and an intricate or complex design, with color can run you $1,500 or more. If you decide you will want a really good artist who also practices standards of safety and hygiene so as not to transmit hepatitis, for example. And so I provide the following too:
Hello faith,
I’m a catholic I have two one next to the other, personally, put it where you can hide it for occasions. Forget the tramp stamps! get one lady like.
I had gotten mine while being a lapsed catholic, however, I’ve heard of men who have a small fish just below the right thumb, so that whenever they shake hands they will be recognized a christian, I thought that was cool.. but haven’t followed that notion.
Things they don’t tell you;
You will taste the ink in your mouth, you can be a allergic to some inks, may even get a headache.As far as scripture;
There’s the mark of the beast on the forehead and hands, branded or tattooed it is an Ivy leaf, symbol of Dionysus, the Greek God of Wine, Parties, Festivals, Madness, and Merriment. (see 2 Maccabees 6:7)however too much of a fun thing leads to ruin. Moderation is always prudent
Note from ‘Catholic Study Bible,’ NAB, Oxford, 2nd edition
onGal 6:17 Henceforth let no man trouble me; for I bear on my body the marks of Jesus.
The marks of Jesus; slaves were often branded by marks (stigmata) burned into their flesh to show whom they belonged , so also devotees to pagan gods. Paul implies instead of outdated circumcision, his body bears the scars of his apostolic labors. such as flogging, stoning,
Rev 14:1 Then I looked, and lo, on Mount Zion stood the Lamb, and with him a hundred and forty-four thousand who had his name and his Father’s name written on their foreheads.
these marks refer the indelible spiritual marks of baptism
Rev 19:16 On his robe and on his thigh he has a name inscribed, King of kings and Lord of lords.
Here is the symbolism of a mounted King, The thigh where their hung. from Psa 45:3 ‘Gird your sword upon your thigh, O mighty one, in your glory and majesty.”
Good luck with your decision, don’t get one because everyone else is, that always leads to trouble. If you do, Get one that appeals to you, something meaningful. Tatoos with a story are always topics of conversation.
God bless,
John
I’m not Catholic… but I would like to weigh in. I do agree with everything you’ve said. I have 4 tattoos (2 of them are the Solas with the plans to get the other 3 Solas tattooed).
As a topic of conversation, I get that a lot actually. I am pretty shy about my Faith but answering questions about my tattoos seem much easier and give me a chance to talk about it (to those who ask, of course).
I have had some silly questions (so get ready for those, Faith, if you do get them) regarding whether my church lets me in the door knowing I have tattoos (serious question, I’m afraid) – I just tell them that my tattoos are in Latin and I couldn’t have spelled it correctly without my Pastor’s help (which is true!).
Leviticus 19:28?
References to this verse are not present in important magisterial documents and in the principal writings of the Fathers of the Church. It is the consensus of Catholic biblical commentators that this prohibition is not part of the unchanging moral law, but part of the ritual law specific to the Old Testament. Many commentators believe that this prohibition was intended to separate Israel from its Canaanite neighbors; some believe that the cuttings in the flesh and tattoo marks to which the verse refers were part of idolatrous Canaanite worship.
The context of the verse favors this interpretation. The preceding verse reads, “You shall not round off the hair on your temples or mar the edges of your beard” (Lev. 19:27)—this prohibition is certainly not applied to members of the Church.
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