Denver Catholic

15 DENVER CATHOLIC | OCTOBER 14-27, 2017 You re invited!! Center for Natural Law's Fall Dinner Seminar on Atheism Saturday, October 21, 6:30pm Join us for cocktails, great food and novel insights on Atheism in the modern world. Author and Professor Dr. Sebastian Mahfood, OP of Holy Apostles College and Fr. Joseph Hearty will o†er new perspectives and useful information like never heard before!! Knights of Columbus Hall – 1555 Grant St., Denver Must RSVP at www.centerfornaturallaw.org 'seminars page', Or call (303) 759-3599, Or email greg@centerfornaturallaw.org Admission is $25.00 per person , be part of Create a new world with prayer, love, community, justice and peace. something bigger www.preciousbloodsistersdayton.org • (937) 837-3302 • vocations@cppsadmin.org Like us on Facebook Find & Like Us on Facebook 4801 North Highway 67, P.O. Box 185, Sedalia, CO 80135 Phone 303-688-4198 ext. 122 (information/reservations) Website: www.sacredheartretreat.org Individually directed retreats available throughout the year. Oct 17 ― Day of Prayer: Fr. Vince Hovley, S.J. The Art of Seeing Oct 20-22 ― Men: Fr. Ed Kinerk, S.J. Praying in Today's World Oct 27-29 ― Men & Women: Fr. Hanh Pham, S.J. Psalms & Prayers Nov 1 ― Day of Prayer: Fr. Paul Patin, S.J. Saints, Not Superheroes Nov 3-5 ― Men & Women: Fr. Ed Kinerk, S.J. Cosmology Nov 10-12 ― Men & Women: Fr. Len Kraus, S.J. Serenity Retreat Nov 15 ― Day of Prayer: Fr. Ed Kinerk, S.J. Joy: A Perspective on My Life Sacred Heart Jesuit Retreat House immoral about getting a tattoo. In fact, a Christian tradition of tattoos can be dated back to as early as the²6th century. Early historians have recorded stories of Christians tattooing themselves with crosses in the Holy Land. This tradi- tion likely stems from the words of St. Paul in his letter to the Galatians, when he writes, "From now on let no one make troubles for me; for² I bear the marks of Jesus on my body." While many biblical scholars argue that Paul is speaking²metaphorically here, he is also likely referring to the ancient Roman and Greek cultural²practice of marking slaves with tattoos to show whom they belonged to. Not even the Catechism contains an explicit reference to tattoos. However, while the Church doesn't have an o® - cial teaching on tattoos, those consid- ering getting one should still²heed²the Christian virtues of temperance, char- ity and prudence. People are sometimes shocked that a priest would have a tattoo, but Father Lajoie explained that² it can sometimes²be used as an opportunity to speak humbly about his own sinfulness, and even for evangelization. "[My tattoos] are a reminder that I have made mistakes in my life, and looking at a couple of my tattoos that I wish I hadn't gotten is a reminder that I've also done other things in my life that I regret and wish I hadn't done — that is, sin," he said. "It's a reminder of the sinful mistakes I've made in the past. We've all made mistakes, some of us have them on our right arm." Father Lajoie also pointed out that his tattoos make him more approach- able to those who might otherwise avoid any sort of conversation with a priest. "For some people, these things that 'normalize' a priest make people more willing to approach them and begin ask ing questions," he said. Early on, Father Lajoie's inspira- tion for his tattoos came from his love of music – the band U2, in particular. The act of getting a tattoo brings with it an element of putting an important part of your personality on display for all to see, and while Father Lajoie conceded that his desire to get a tattoo was partially motivated by this, it was a mark ²that²also bore a deeper meaning for him and his Catholic faith. "In some ways, as Catholics, since we're sacramental people, the desire to want a physical symbol and reminder of something that's deeply impacted your life…I think in some ways that touches upon us as Catholics who have the sac- raments," Father Lajoie explained. Tattoos are, of course, not sacra- mentals, he clarifi ed, but just as the sacraments are physical expressions of invisible realities, tattoos are phys- ical symbols that say something about who we are and what has impacted us in our lives. "When something has happened in your life that's not physical, but you've gotten through it, or is very important and meaningful to you, to have a visible symbol and reminder and image of that touches upon our desire to wear that out there," said Father Lajoie. The Church has no teaching when it comes to tattoos; however, as is the case with other amoral issues, it has some guide- lines that should be con- sidered when dis- cerning whether to get a tattoo. PHOTOS BY JASON WEINRICH

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