Denver Catholic

14 OCTOBER 14-27, 2017 | DENVER CATHOLIC Around the Archdiocese SERVING THE DENVER CATHOLIC COMMUNITY SINCE 1890. The heritage behind our mortuaries and cemeteries is one of history and tradition. For more than a century, Catholic families have trusted Olinger Mortuaries and Cemeteries to care for their loved ones because respect for traditions, understanding the needs of the Catholic faith, and providing affordable options is at the heart of what we do. With more than a 85 years of combined experience, parishioners Harry Stevenson and Matt Whale have assisted families with care and compassion. Their expertise combined with those who provide professional services in 11 Olinger neighborhood chapels is virtually unprecedented in serving the Denver Catholic community. (303) 455-3663 www.denverfuneralproviders.com Harry Stevenson 55 Years Matt Whaley 30 Years A place for reconnecting With God. Come for a day or week. Book your next retreat with us! 719-258-1600 For Tour or Reservations www.eltesororetreat.org C F & C S N C A M A D For more information cfcsDenver.org MT. OLIVET CATHOLIC CEMETERY 12801 W. 44th Avenue Wheat Ridge, CO 80033 (303) 424-7785 ST. SIMEON CATHOLIC CEMETERY 22001 E. State Hwy. 30 Aurora, CO 80018 (720) 859-9785 ARCHDIOCESE OF DENVER FUNERAL CENTER Serving the greater Denver area (303) 425-9511 Start planning today: Funeral | Cremation | Cemetery | Family Estates BY AARON LAMBERT "…You know that's permanent, right?" So goes one of an array of responses when a discerning young person tells their parents they want to get a tattoo. "Why would you want to do that to your- self ?" is a safe follow-up. It's a good question to ask. Why do people get tattoos? And another:²What does the Catholic²Church say about get- ting tattoos? "I think when anyone is getting a tattoo, and especially a Catholic, [they] should be mindful of, 'Is this respect- ful? Is this in anyway demonic, lewd or crude?'" said Father Joseph Lajoie, parochial vicar of Light of the World Parish in Littleton. Father Lajoie has fi ve tattoos himself, the most recent of which was done in June. He added an "M" as seen on the Miraculous Medal to a cross he has on his shoulder, sym- bolizing Marian devotion as a priest. "Since I consecrated myself to Our Lord through the Miraculous Medal of Our Lady, I wanted the image in the back, kind of in my own style, as that Marian tattoo," Father Lajoie said. "For me, it's a way of having in my fl esh a pointing towards the scapular and the Miraculous Medal." You read that right: Father Lajoie, a Catholic priest, has fi ve tattoos. Many opponents of tattoos, espe- cially those who are Christians, often cite Leviticus 19:28 as explicit instruc- tion by the Church not to get a tattoo: "Do not lacerate your bodies for the dead, and do not tattoo yourselves." So, tattoos are forbidden? Not so fast. This instruction to the Israelites² from the Book of Leviticus refers to an ancient Canaanite practice of tattooing the names of the deceased on one's body as a form of mourning. The Israelites were forbidden by the Lord from doing this because this was considered a pagan practice. Another important distinction to make is that this command was part of the Mosaic Law passed down to the people of Israel, which was part of God's Old Covenant with his people. As Church history teaches, the Old Covenant was rendered inapplicable once Christ established the New Covenant through his crucifi xion. So, tattoos aren't bad? From a moral standpoint, no. There is nothing ' Forgive me Father, I have a tattoo.' 'Hey, so do I!' I think when anyone is getting a tattoo, and especially a Catholic, [they] should be mindful of, 'Is this respectful?'" FATHER JOSEPH LAJOIE "

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