Author Topic: Receiving the Eucharist with sinful tattoos (Read 2000 times)

Änσnymσus · « **on:** May 02, 2014, 06:19:00 PM »

Having confessed that I got tattoos that reflected my sinful past life when I was a teenager, should I refrain from receiving the Eucharist until they are removed?

Forgot to ask the Priest this, may not see him until after Mass. Should I wait and talk to him?

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #1 on:** May 02, 2014, 06:25:06 PM »

Quote from: Guest

Having confessed that I got tattoos that reflected my sinful past life when I was a teenager, should I refrain from receiving the Eucharist until they are removed?

Forgot to ask the Priest this, may not see him until after Mass. Should I wait and talk to him?

If it isn't okay for you to receive communion until you have your tattoos removed, then the priest you confessed to that you had tattoos should have told you not to go to communion until you had them removed.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #2 on:** May 02, 2014, 06:28:45 PM »

I know of a friend who has tattoos and the priests allow him to receive communion even though he hasn't had them removed. But none of his tattoos are visible when he goes to mass so there is no scandal.

Pete Vere · « **Reply #3 on:** May 02, 2014, 06:48:20 PM »

Quote from: Guest

Having confessed that I got tattoos that reflected my sinful past life when I was a teenager, should I refrain from receiving the Eucharist until they are removed?

Forgot to ask the Priest this, may not see him until after Mass. Should I wait and talk to him?

Nobody is required to go to extraordinary or near-impossible means, so provided you have repented, confessed and received sacramental absolution, do not refrain from receiving the Holy Eucharist.

However, a little common sense in approaching Our Lord:

1 - If you believe the tattoos are sinful, keep them covered in public.
2 - When you are able to do so without causing financial harm to you or your family, have them removed or covered up with something more appropriate.

I ran into this problem even with an appropriate tattoo. I was a young traditionalist at the time, about 100 pounds lighter, and a lot more poor. So I got a middle-quality tattoo of St Louis.

The problem is that over the years I lost the photo of the original, and despite multiple google searches was never able to find the photo or drawing again. So it became too faded and stretched and needed to be redone, I ended up having to get it covered over.

Thus St Louis is now St Michael.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #4 on:** May 02, 2014, 07:05:36 PM »

http://www.traditioninaction.org/Questions/F013_Tattos_Somerville.html

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #5 on:** May 02, 2014, 07:13:52 PM »

Thanks for the replies so far, I'm interested in what others have to say, or any links etc.

I think I am being a bit scrupulous...but it is definitely my duty to get them removed. They represent a wicked past life. They are not good tattoos, they are grimey and represent sin.

I think the devil is maybe rubbing my nose in my past.

Sigismund · « **Reply #6 on:** May 02, 2014, 08:05:38 PM »

Quote from: Pete Vere

Quote from: Guest
Having confessed that I got tattoos that reflected my sinful past life when I was a teenager, should I refrain from receiving the Eucharist until they are removed?

Forgot to ask the Priest this, may not see him until after Mass. Should I wait and talk to him?

Nobody is required to go to extraordinary or near-impossible means, so provided you have repented, confessed and received sacramental absolution, do not refrain from receiving the Holy Eucharist.

However, a little common sense in approaching Our Lord:

1 - If you believe the tattoos are sinful, keep them covered in public.
2 - When you are able to do so without causing financial harm to you or your family, have them removed or covered up with something more appropriate.

I ran into this problem even with an appropriate tattoo. I was a young traditionalist at the time, about 100 pounds lighter, and a lot more poor. So I got a middle-quality tattoo of St Louis.

The problem is that over the years I lost the photo of the original, and despite multiple google searches was never able to find the photo or drawing again. So it became too faded and stretched and needed to be redone, I ended up having to get it covered over.

Thus St Louis is now St Michael.

Excellent advice!

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #7 on:** May 02, 2014, 08:10:35 PM »

Pete, why didn't you just get the tat REMOVED instead of replaced? Do you really think that a tat gives glory to St. Michael? I think it's an insult. I don't get the reasoning.

Pete Vere · « **Reply #8 on:** May 02, 2014, 08:25:21 PM »

Quote from: Guest

Pete, why didn't you just get the tat REMOVED instead of replaced? Do you really think that a tat gives glory to St. Michael? I think it's an insult. I don't get the reasoning.

Because I am a traditional Catholic supporting a large young family on a modest single income. At the time:

Cost of removing tattoo: $10,000
Cost of covering over with St Michael: $150

Matto · « **Reply #9 on:** May 02, 2014, 08:39:10 PM »

Quote from: Pete Vere

Cost of removing tattoo: $10,000
Cost of covering over with St Michael: $150

Removing a tattoo costs so much. I didn't know. I would guess that if you have gotten a tattoo in the past you wouldn't be obliged to remove it unless you are rich. But I do think it is best to keep it covered especially during Mass.

Pete Vere · « **Reply #10 on:** May 02, 2014, 09:11:51 PM »

Quote from: Matto

Removing a tattoo costs so much. I didn't know. I would guess that if you have gotten a tattoo in the past you wouldn't be obliged to remove it unless you are rich. But I do think it is best to keep it covered especially during Mass.

Basically, so long as one has repented of any wicked tattoo and keeps them covered in public, to the best of one's ability, God understands.

But for peace of conscience, coverup is by far the most affordable option. There are very few tattoos that cannot be turned into something else by an experienced coverup artist.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #11 on:** May 02, 2014, 09:17:38 PM »

There's an organization (sorry, don't remember the name) that removes tats for free as an act of charity. It was started for men who couldn't get a job because they had tats. The men were mostly ex-gang members who wanted to start a new life.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #12 on:** May 02, 2014, 10:52:38 PM »

I didn't know it costed that much, wow. Fat chance I'll get mine removed. I can just imagine courting a nice catholic girl and a year later her seeing my tattoos and throwing up...I don't think God wants me to get married anyways.

Änσnymσus · « **Reply #13 on:** May 03, 2014, 01:57:46 AM »

Can never hear a discussion about Tattoos without thinking about Bill Bailey's description of his.

Tiffany · « **Reply #14 on:** May 03, 2014, 02:35:35 AM »

Can you just cover them if they are in a place that clothing won't cover?

Author Topic: Receiving the Eucharist with sinful tattoos (Read 2000 times)

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