A few weeks ago I did a post on the subject of Christians and tattoos, linking to a couple of articles which addressed that question from different perspectives. As a result, some of my Christian friends started talking about their tattoos on Facebook…

Despite my own feelings on the subject, I found the whole thing fascinating. So, in a follow-up post, I asked people to submit a picture of their tattoo and the story behind it. Below are the three submissions I received.

Don’t worry, that wasn’t one of them… 🙂

Submission #1

My tattoo means “Child of God” in Hindi. Harijans were the euphemism coined by Ghandi for the “untouchables” in the Indian Caste System; they worked with blood and human waste, and were generally avoided by the public. My tattoo is a religious, occupational, and social statement.

Submission #2

I feel like I’m writing a book report or “Show and Tell”. As of now, I have two tattoos…

The first is a dogwood flower on my foot. I lived in Georgia for a time, and this is the state flower, but more importantly because of the Legend of the Dogwood Tree. The abridged version of the tale is: The Dogwood tree was once a mighty hardwood, so tall and strong the Romans would use it to make crosses. After Christ was Crucified, the dogwoods mourned their participation in the crime. As remuneration for their sacrifice, God let them become thin and willowy, to prevent them from ever having to participate in such brutality again. Now, every spring around Easter, the Dogwood blooms a delicate white flower with a red cross in the center, to remind the world of Christ’s sacrifice.

My second tattoo was designed and drawn by a nun. It’s simple enough with subtle(-ish) nuances. The root of the tattoo is an anchor, the ancient Christian symbol of hope. The anchor has been modified to the shape of the Eastern Cross to represent the Byzantine Rite I profess. Wrapped around the anchor (in an infinity knot) is a rope. The rope is a symbol of the snake defeated by Christ on the Cross (also linked to Moses’ serpent staff. Read it how you like).

Eventually the rope will connect into a quarter sleeve tattoo (my nun is currently designing) which will incorporate floral work of Alphonse Mucha and a Peacock feather quill. Below is a icon of Russian Orthodox Heiromartyr St. Ilarion Troitsky wearing vestments with a similar cross to the one I have on my back.

I also intend to get LOVE written on my arm, along the lines of To Write Love on Her Arms. If you don’t know about the TWLOHA movement, please click on that link right now…

Submission #3

I did not get my first tattoo until I was in my late 30’s. This was a gooodthing, because if I had started earlier I might be covered with them by now. They are quite addictive. Being Catholic, though, I knew to be very selective about what I had tattooed on my body. Not that I’m in to skulls and other traditional tattoo subjects, but I also made sure it was something I’d want on my body. Forever.

The first one was a no-brainer. Star Trek Delta Shield on the inside of my left ankle. Very small. Easy to keep hidden from my mom who was against tattoos in general, against them on women absolutely. And I knew I would always and forever love anything Star Trek.

The second, on my right inside ankle is a baseball. Another lifelong love and constant reminder of my nephew who plays baseball.

 

My third was my most impulsive tattoo. Top of my left foot I have the words “Ionúin Máthair” and some shamrocks. I got it for a woman who has become my heart’s Mom. She is part Irish and it means “Beloved Mother”. At the time I got that tattoo I was having major issues with my own mother and when she finally saw the tattoo she asked about it and her reply was, “Well, I know it’s not for me.” Not wanting to hurt her further I let her assume it was for our Mother Mary. Now she has Alzheimer’s and barely knows what a tattoo is, let alone remember that she doesn’t like them.

Finally is the cross and M from the Miraculous Medal. I first saw this symbol while visiting the godfather of my nephew/godson (same baseball player nephew). Fr. Matt had just been assigned pastor of the Immaculata and it was our first time visiting that church. My eye was immediately drawn to the cross and the M. I remember taking a picture of each example I saw inside and outside the church. I knew right away I wanted to get a tattoo of it so I asked Fr. Matt if he would email me a picture of the graphic that they use in their bulletin. He asked why and I told him. He said no, he wouldn’t send it to me. He is not a fan of tattoos. Or maybe he’s just not a fan of me with tattoos, not really sure.

The next few weeks I’d keep asking him for the graphic and he kept saying no. Finally I started looking for images online. That’s when I found out it was part of the Miraculous Medal. Originally I thought about getting the entire image done, but was loathe to include the hearts because I was afraid the tattoo artist might get a little too literal (pierced, bleeding hearts being a traditional tattoo subject). I settled on the cross with the M and the twelve stars around it, but because I didn’t want the tattoo covering my entire forearm it was decided that the stars would have to be too small to have any definition, so I nixed them, too.

About a month after I got this tattoo we took our mother to the Immaculata to get an anointing prior to a surgical procedure. It was at the anointing that Fr. Matt finally saw it. He asked if it were real and then just shook his head and smiled. I love this tattoo, not only because it does represent our Mother Mary (whom I was, of course, named after) and her constant love and adoration of Jesus, but it is also a great evangelization tool. Anyone brave enough to ask me what it is learns where it comes from, what it represents and gives me an opportunity to share my faith and my love of the Catholic Church. Plus, when I meet someone knew and they ask my name I point to it and say “Mary, like the Mother of God”… Very few people forget my name.

Thanks to our three contributors! If you’re a Christian with a tattoo and a story to share please shoot me a message…