Fr Mike, love the tat. I got praying hands and a rosary on my arm as a Lutheran. Over the next 10 years, so many people asked me if I was Catholic, it actually caused me to begin looking into it. I entered the Catholic Church in 2014 and have never looked back

I have a Harry Potter tattoo on my forearm that I'm contemplating getting covered up/redesigned into a tattoo of our Blessed Mother. At one point I felt like Harry Potter "saved" me as a teenager because it allowed me to find friends who helped me feel less alone and less depressed, but now I've been saved by Jesus (and was actually baptized, confirmed, and received my first Eucharist on the Easter Vigil this year!). Part of that process was cultivating a relationship with Mary, which allowed me to give up most of my worldly vanity and embrace my calling as a daughter of Christ

I love this Father Mike! My daughter was dating a Catholic from the UAE who had a cross tattooed in the same place as yours. He said it was so there was no doubt, regardless of where he was in the middle East, who he belonged to. Many in his family had been persecuted. It was such a powerful testimony.

You’re not too old. I’m 57. 12 years Catholic school. I wish we had a marathoner, tattooed awesome priest when I was growing up. Please stick around for a long time. ❤

That was a shock, Fr. Mike, but not nearly as shocking as when an elderly friend of mine got a tattoo on her wrist at the age of 89! Her reason made perfect sense. She was concerned that she might one day be in a nursing home with dementia, or something, and she wanted to be sure everyone knew she belonged to Jesus. And plus it gave her an opportunity to share her faith with the tattoo artist. It seems like your reasoning is along similar lines.

I'm still in the "I don't want or need a tattoo" camp. While I agree some tattoos are sinful and others not, I am made in the image of God, so my whole body is already a "tattoo" of God in its form and function. Each time I receive the Eucharist- His blood flows through my veins. No condemnation or judgment... but just don't see Jesus needing to tatoo "Father" on His arm as an enhancement to the Our Father or Crucifixion.

Fr. Mike, my husband and I love you. We are 60, & enjoy these videos so much. We really think you are a very special Soul

Thank you for sharing Father Mike. Praying for you always. You bring so many people to Jesus.

Let us all pray for Fr. Mike and his ministry 🙏

I was listening with my eyes closed and when you said “I never ever want to take off Jesus” I felt this overwhelming smile take over ♥️ thank you for sharing Fr Mike

Fr. Mike. My husband was in that same shop last year and he got the Lord’s Prayer in Armenian tattooed over his heart. We are Armenian orthodox Christians. God bless you.

You're amazing, Father. Thank you so very much for being out there. God bless you!

Woah, that is something I didn't see coming.

The Catholic Church teaches that when a man participates in priesthood after the Sacrament of Holy Orders, he acts in persona Christi Capitis, representing the person of Christ. Now, we all know by Leviticus 19:28, Jesus never had any tattoos nor cuttings on his body as to fulfill the will of the Father. So, Fr Mike now appears more different from the person Christ than before. It would seem obvious that getting a tattoo is an act of conforming with the world in contrast to our need to strive to become Holy. When I read the responses, most are of the "Rock On Father!" or "I got a tattoo too!" . I don't see any response to Fr. Mikes new tattoo bringing any soul closer to Jesus or any connection to picking up one's cross and following God's Will. What I see is more people now thinking of following Fr. Mike's worldly example to make themselves more acceptable to the world by being like the world. Just to add a little perspective, do you believe the Virgin Mary, Mother to all, Queen of Heaven, has a tattoo ?

Your explanation is so beautiful! Jesus is permanently in our hearts and lives. The excitement in your voice is wonderful. God bless you.

Father Mike, I just recently started listening and watching you. I am doing The Bible in a Year through Hallow. Thank you being a real guy, down to earth. You are doing the work and the word of our dear Lord. You are blessed. Blessings to you.

I have a full sleeve of religious, specifically Catholic, tattoos and totally appreciate the *not wanting to take Him off* thing. Feeling affirmed! Rock on, Father (and I'm 51 :)

I was on a mission trip in Israel after my conversion to Protestantism (now a Catholic). I had tattoos from my youth, and was really ashamed of them and kept them covered the entire time I was abroad - long sleeves, even in 114 degree heat, doing physical labor, all day every day. Until one day, I just couldn't take the heat anymore and decided to take the risk, remove that long sleeved, outer layer, and let my skin be exposed. During my entire time on this trip, no one from Israel would really talk to me, or our group all that much. But after I removed that covering, a Muslim man (middle-aged gentleman with a family) I was working with, saw them, and, in the best English he could muster, complimented them; and from that moment on, he began to look after me on the work site like a daughter, and started speaking with me and sharing pictures of his family and opening up about his life (as much as he could with the language barrier). The whole purpose of our mission trip was to serve the community and to build friendly relationships with the people living there, so that, maybe one day, they would become more open to hearing what we had to say and receive the Gospel. The whole point was to make connections and to show love. God took what I was ashamed of and tried so desperately to hide, and turned it into something beautiful that opened the door and made a way for friendship between two unlikely individuals to bloom. God used my tattoos to open a door, and brought healing and joy where I had previously only felt shame. I will never, ever forget that. My reasons for getting the tattoos in the past may not have been God centered or right - but that doesn't mean God can't still use them to create connections, to start a conversation, or maybe make one seem more "approachable" rather than "strictly religious". Some people have a hard time opening up to people they are afraid might look down on them and judge them. Sometimes, displaying the fact you aren't perfect either or might have something in common with them, is all it takes to make someone feel more comfortable and trusting of you. Again, especially with my modern generation, having a tattoo as a religious person, can open a surprising amount of doors. But that's just been my experience. I hope you will find your experience falls along similar lines, Father. May God bless you and your efforts.

I think it's sooo beautiful ! I have a tattoo of the Star of David on my wrist & I love telling people who ask What it is & telling them about my faith. God bless you Fr.

You are beautiful, Father Mike!! You've given your life up to Jesus in sooo many ways and you serve Him with LOVE, DEVOTION, SPIRITUALLY, PROPHETICALLY, IN VIRTUE AND IN CHARACTER!

I am very disappointed in you Father Mike. You certainly of all people I would hope would not need a tattoo to remind you, you can't "take off" Christ , you can't "take off" being a son of the Father". You are an example to millions of young people. That is a serious job, being a role model. You have sent the message 1.You need a physical, permanent reminder to believe, you are a son of the Father. 2. You need an imprint on your body to be allowed to say the name of Jesus in public to strangers. 3. That a tattoo is something that opens doors and not the possibility of it closing doors. Blessed are those that believe without seeing! I thank and praise the Lord I don't need to see, to know, I am His!

I too have a Jerusalem cross tattooed on my arm. It opens a lot of conversations that wouldn’t happen normally (being able to talk about God, Jesus, Catholicism). I’m a very introverted person so evangelizing does not come easily for me, but the tattoo has been a great tool to open conversations I probably never would of had. Please don’t judge fr mike so harshly, tattoos of themselves are not evil - intent is key.

Your awesome father Mike! And I am really enjoying Lent with you on HOLLOW ❤

7:30 pm EST Father Mike, thank you for this video. I couldn’t help but smile the whole time and clap at the very end. I’ve always liked the Jerusalem cross and the meaning behind it. All six tattoos I have are meaningful and related to my faith & family. My first tattoo was Jesus on the cross with John 14:6 it was a time in my life approaching 40 years old that I knew my marriage was coming to an end and the one man in my life that I could always count on was Jesus. ❤ my second tattoo is Corinthians: Faith, Hope & Love. The others are meaningfu and carry a story of my healing, faith and family.

Was it right? Was it wrong? Was it essential? How does it fit in with Leviticus? Or do we make Leviticus fit in with our wants and desires? What else in the Bible can we manipulate to assuage our consciences and poor choices? Having it there on his wrist on public display and then attempting to 'justify' it by saying he now gets to talk about it and about Jesus to those who ask was, in my opinion, a cop out. He's a consecrated Priest! Surely he understands that means he gets to talk about Jesus? Does he need a tattoo to do that? If it's such a personal, compelling thing he 'had' to do then he could have had it over his heart where he could be 'reminded' but not have it on public display where it openly contradicts his previous 'interpretation' of the Bible teaching and influences others to also get a tattoo because: "hey, Fr Mike got one so it must be a really good thing for me to do too". :'-( The tragedy is that Fr Mike has such a profound and powerful impact on so many impressionable and vulnerable and so easily influenced people and I truly felt he has not considered that basically his first video presented a totally different stance and interpretation of the Bible teachings on tattoos. Then he completely flipped on that and caved in to do what he "wanted". The comments here already show the extent of this influence on others and that they now will 'comfortably' follow his lead. Fr Mike could actually "sell ice to Eskimos" as the old adage goes, he is without doubt the 'poster boy' for Catholicism - handsome, humorous etc. He is so persuasive, so popular and so influential and he could justify anything and make us all believe it is right (or wrong) - but it boils down to the fact that he clearly stated in his first video on tattoos that he "always wanted a tattoo". So in reality he just gave in to his long held desire of wanting to get a tattoo... If he needs it to be 'reminded' that he belongs to Jesus through having to get a tattoo then that is a concern. Baptism is our permanent, indelible reminder that we belong to Jesus - for life but in addition he is an ordained Priest. Getting the tattoo was, in my opinion, a very poor judgement call, the attempted 'justification' he gives does not wash and actually sounded so hypocritical and self serving to me, and the throw away comments about being almost 50 so being almost dead? What the heck? We all make very bad decisions and life choices and ones we regret for the rest of our lives. We are all "broken" (a word Fr Mike constantly uses), and our sins have consequences, consequences of our "brokenness" even when God forgives us. We can try to justify our bad decisions all we (and he) likes but that does not make them right.

Fr. Mike, I got a tattoo on my 33 wedding anniversary. My husband got one on our third anniversary. So, our anniversary was coming up and I knew that he would love it, so I did it. It’s a cute teddy bear, in a sailor’s outfit. It also has his name on it. He loved it, and I loved him for loving it too. We have been married almost 53years, so it’s a little faded, but we both smile when we see it, or explain it to others. God has given us the grace to still b together after all these years, and we know how lucky we are. So, that’s my story, and I am sticking to it!

I think it is a great gift to be inspired by the Father. I often am inspired by you. Your my favourite preacher.

I love your tat, Fr. Mike & I love you! Keep up the good work of leading us closer to Christ! Bible in a year was life changing for me! Thank you for that! God bless!

Honestly I was caught off guard by father’s tattoo. I never pictured him inking his pigmentation. I’m a firm believer you come into this world clean and hopefully leave this world with no ink!!

"never want to take off Jesus" That's what you received in Holy Orders. An indelible mark on your soul. You act in persona Christi. This reality should be so ingrained in a priest's priesthood and spirtuality, that they wouldn't need such a worldly physical symbol or reminder of it. As far as evangelization, that's what your clericals are for.

Fr. Mike....God willing, you have many more years to share your wisdom with us. Thanks for what you do and God bless you.

I tattooed the name of Jesus in my heart where HE LIVES FOREVER I LOVE YOU JESUS Love you Fr Mike❤

As someone who has Catholic tattoos working in the healthcare field, what easier way to evangelize patients when they ask me ‘What does your tattoo mean?’ and then I have the wonderful opportunity to share the Good News of Jesus. Catholic tattoos are visible signs of the invisible reality that envelops all baptized Christians: we are His and He is ours. God bless you Father Mike and may our Lady keep you. Ave Maria!

I think that our bodies, like Saint Paul said, are “temples of the Holy Spirit”, they are not ours, and so, we can not mark them or do harm to them. We must keep them clean inside and out, take good care of them and have them ready for the Resurrection of the dead.

Fr Mike, you are awesome! Thank you for all your work!

My wife got a tat before we were married when she was 40, it was an Iris (her favorite flower) on her right shoulder. We met & were married when she was 53. She became Orthodox so could be married (also because she fell in love with the faith) , but she wished she had never gotten it & was a burden to her till she passed away.

I still don't really fully get it, I know what he's saying, but, at least for me, I don't need to see a physical reminder imprinted on my body? God created me as I am, I don't need to mark it. Tattooing is the type of thing that if you don't watch it can become more and more addictive and take the person away from seeing themselves as Christ sees them. Am I missing something?

I have a feeling of sadness after watching this video. God bless you father Mike.

You are amazing Fr. Mike an incredible gift to the church. I listen to you daily on the podcast! May God be glorified!

Fr. Mike, you are so holy and happy in your vocation. That is how we receive our impression. Your tattoo does not change that. So thankful for you and pray our Lord bless and keep you always

I am not an advocate for tattoos. I spent 22 years in the military and many of my friends had tattoos. While I never had a problem with them as individuals, I often wondered what was the attraction in having a permanent mark on the body by choice. My dad got a tattoo while he served during WWII. As a child, I was fascinated by the tall chip on his forearm with a "Sailor's Grave" scroll under it. However, when I joined the Navy years later I noticed that it was fading and a choice my father regretted. To add to my decision not to have a tattoo was several friends that were intent on "body tattoos" from the neck down to the ankles. I respected my buddies, but began to see them as a sideshow attraction. Further, how would a drawing of some sort be justified to my future wife and family for what get I came to think of as body graffiti? I couldn't see a reason to add artwork to the body that God had provided me in life. I feel that the faith I have in God should be reflected in my actions and words and not by a permanent symbol I selected from a catalog of artwork. I have worn a "5 way" medal around my neck since I was seventeen years old. I like the idea that it is something I wear everyday by choice and not because of a single choice I made over fifty years ago. How others express their devotion is their personal right, however, for me a tattoo is not how I want to show it.

That’s such a beautiful analogy and thought behind the tattoo. I’ve been seriously debating getting a tattoo but I love how your unrelenting love or bond for Jesus is palpable through this beautiful.

Jan25,2023 Dear Fr Mike , thank you for your frankness and clarity on this subject. I too wanted and got a tattoo in my 50’s. Sadly it was after a divorce from my wife of 37yrs. Since my divorce I have turned more devoutly to my church and faith. It helped me through the hardship of that decision . Like you I wanted a tattoo that was meaningful and lasting and chose our Jesus on the cross , on my back. The line I use and believe is that “ He has always had my back and now is on my back forever “ Praise our lord , forever

Thank you Fr. Mike for your channel and how inspiring and spirit filled your contents are. I am 68 and too old to get a tattoo but I would talk about your tattoo to any Catholic youth who is interested in getting a tattoo to watch this video.

I find all of this to give me a heavy heart. Jesus will NEVER leave us. We only leave Him. Our emotions are good and from God, but we should never base an important decision on our emotional state. God knows they change. Human respect is not a good thing either. Father Mike I'm sorry that as a priest you made a decision that is worldly. Jesus is in the Blessed Sacrament for you every second. Holy Communion, even Spiritual Holy Communions will fill the place that needs Him with so much grace. Your daily visits to Him would diminish your fear of being separated from Him. To fit in this world is very risky. You being a teacher for Christ puts you in a very important place. The more we know the more that will be expected. Its never to late to make good something that may bring bad fruit. Pray and trust that God give you the wisdom to do what is right. God bless you Fr. Mike

Thank you Father Mike! I was remembering meeting you in Steubenville one year for a conference and it changed my life. I was 18 then and now at 26 I still remember my encounter with Jesus. I now also have 2 tatoos and mine I love to talk about them when ever someone asks about them because it is my promise to God to never self harm again which is something I struggled alot as a teen dealing with anxiety and depression. Everytime I look at it especially when Im low, it's a reminder of the great things God is doing in my life and that I promised God to be strong.

The Lord says to honor your body and treat it as though it’s the temple of God, father… We need to lead by example. I pray for peace and clarity for you.

You are the best ! You have no idea the lives You have touched and saved. GOD BLESS YOU always

Thank you for sharing. I don't have a desire to get a tattoo, but if I were that would be what I would do. I loved how you said you can talk about Jesus to strangers just by talking about your tattoo. God bless you Fr. Mike. I love your podcasts.

This vídeo came to me right on time Father! During the spiritual exercises last february, I felt for the first time in my life I could get a tattoo... My principle and foundation: remain in His love

The day after Roe v Wade was overturned on The Feast of the Sacred Heart, my 20yo son(6'2" 200lb of muscle working guys guy) got a HUGE sacred heart tatoo on the inside of his forearm. I was shocked, as an average 20yo kid, I had no idea how deeply aware and moved he was by this! It was pretty cool.

Father Mike, I was watching a video that had to do with Father Edwards testimony and it was really powerful and touching. He mentioned you guys made a pact to be buried next to each other, and for reference, I found a picture online and I was surprised to learn you are a much younger man than he, but still you’ve had such a profound impact on his life despite this.. Then, as I searched up ‘how to pray the rosary,’ your video appeared down below and I couldn’t help but feel the Lord has led me to you for your inspiration and for your encouragement. Sometimes we don’t always realize the lives we impact or how far our influence goes, so thank you Father Mike for your blogs here. I have been watching countless videos on Bishop Fulton Sheen, yet I had been hoping to hear from a current priest and I am glad I stumbled my way here; thank you again Father Mike and may peace be with you always. 🕊️

I was Confirmed last Sunday, at the age of 37, and have been contemplating a first tattoo. Being quiet, I always used to wear tie-dyes, now I'm thinking of Agnus Dei on my inner forearm. I want to say something that will make others think, without using words, which have always escaped me.

In my whole life I’ve never seen a Priest with a tattoo until Fr. Mike showed it to public on a UKposts channel 😁 God bless you Fr. Mike 🙏

I LOVE this! So much so that I want to go get a small tattoo on my shoulder that declares I belong to Christ forever. I’m 51, no tattoos but I am so inspired to follow your lead. I never-EVER want to take off Jesus. God bless you father Mike. I always seem to smile when I watch one of your videos. ♥️🕊

My Maine Reason for not making a tattoo is that I believe flesh is sacred, and God don't like when we hurt ourself

Father Mike, I understand completely! I got a small tattoo a few years back when I lost my only child, my beautiful Christian daughter. It was meant just for me, that I could still hold her close until we meet in heaven. For the past couple of years I have been mulling about adding a tattoo of a cross on the inside of my wrist. Just for me. Something I can look at and remind myself daily of the love of Jesus. And if it opens doors for sharing all the better! Thank you Father Mike for sharing and you are in my prayers. 🙏

They say getting a tattoo is like eating potato chips. "You can't eat just one!" Lol! Nice tat Fr. Mike! BTW, I got my first tattoo last year (age 59) A single red rose for the Holy Mother. 🌹 It is my daily reminder that she said yes to God. ❤️

Father Mike, I also went to Jerusalem in 2020 and got the cross of Jerusalem tattooed on my wrist in the same tattoo parlor. God bless you always!!!

Loved the tattoo and the passionate purpose and explanation of it! Thanks for sharing it with us ♥️

You know Father Mike, I have thought about getting a tattoo many times over the years. I am 54 years old and still do not have one. Once when I was a young man in the US Navy, I ended up walking in to a tattoo parlor, drunk with a couple of sailor friends of mine. I was determined that I was going to get an image of Popeye the Sailor Flexing on my arm. One of my friends stopped me. He pretty much pulled me out of the tattoo parlor and then told me "hey lets go back to the ship. You sober up get a good nights rest and if you still want to get that tatoo when you are sober. Go get it but, not now. Not while you are drunk" Good friend! I then had a re-version of my Catholic faith about a year after I got out of the Navy. Feeling so in love with Jesus and how he saved me I wanted to express that in any way possible. I thought alot about a tattoo. I still do. It is a very specific tattoo of an anotomically correct heart in black ink, no color, with a crown of thorns around it and of course some blood dripping from the thorns. I don't know if I ever will get that tattoo. You know the only thought that has stopped me is the thought that ....No matter how I adorn my body with religious symbols, tattoo, crucifix-neckless, religious t-shirt. These things can never reflect the truth in my soul. Father Mike, I like your tattoo. I am an artist and have an appreciation for expressions of art icluding tattoos. I respect expressions of faith but I am also always a bit skeptical when I see a person who seems a bit showy in terms of religious items especially a tattoo. I hope that doesn't seem too judgemental. Its actually somewhat the opposite. Its actually a hope that we all realize that only God can make us perfect inside and out.

Just when I think...”man, Fr. Mike is probably the coolest Priest” .. I see this! Wish I could meet him in real life haha. I feel like I know him after participating and almost finishing in Bible in a year. Day 352!! Thanks for everything you’ve done for me! You inspired me to get baptized and join a local church after running away for years and years. I’m finally home❤️❤️❤️

You received the indelible mark on your soul through the sacraments. Amen

God bless you and may He continue to use you for His kingdom. In Jesus' Name, Amen.

One would have thought that your baptism and priestly vows and the oils of your ordination are your permanent and indelible mark upon your soul, Father Mike.

To people who felt off watching this, for me this shows transparency. Which is something the church owes us…a lot.

Love it! God bless you Fr. Mike!

Fr Mike you don’t look a day over 40! Thanks for your priesthood and your ministry. Keep doing what you’re doing! God bless

Thanks Fr Mike for this enlightening msg. This msg is encouraging. I finally got my tattoo last yr because i really want it since college and same as you i have been debating this inside my head and kept the photo in my cellphone . I am 30 and this will be my first and last and everyday i am reminded to renew my faith and to remember Jesus for everything he has given me.

If it helps Father Mike, that’s great. I kinda feel like all our efforts to keep our kids from getting tats just went out the window.

To know you Father Mike is to love you. ❤ Your tattoo is really cool and what a wonderful reminder of Christ and the land he walked upon.

Thank you Father Mike for explaining the reason for a tattoo…you bless my life with your witness and teachings. Love the Bible in a Year and Catechism is a Year. God bless you always!

I'm sorry, this does bother me. Please stay grounded. Father. Sending prayers every day.

What about the most precious and sublime moment of every priest: the Consecration of the Host? His going to bring the attention to himself and to the tattoo, not to the Host, and people are going to be distracted and many disappointed, and other youngsters are going to do more tattoos

Beautiful !!! Bless you. I teach 2nd grade religion, and my kiddos love to hear the different things that go on. I will surely share this with them this week, our last class. In 2 weeks they make their 1st Ho Ly Communion.

I love that you are so real, just like the rest of us. Always great to hear your perspective on things we think about and not sure who we can ask. Thank you Fr Mike!

Just ask yourself this question, “would the Blessed Virgin Mary like me to get a tattoo, or would She get one Herself?” Should be a simple answer… And you don’t need to be a celebrity priest to answer this question.

Father Mike , I got the same tattoo. I’m 66 years old and it was now or never . Always wanted one but didn’t know what I wanted till I saw yours. It’s meaning is so powerful and even my tattoo artist thought it was way cool . So thank you. ❤️🙏

One of the BEST teachings You have ever delivered! God Best you Father Mike!

Fr Mike was totally honest and spoke from his heart about the tattoo. He had it done after years of prayer and careful consideration. It was a conscious decision not one made in a drunken stupor with friends daring him. He was in Jerusalem, a city he loves and went to a tattoo place that has meaning to the city. Fr mentioned the Old Testament law about marking the body, then He said Jesus came and some laws changed. For example, the Israelites were not to eat pork, but then Jesus came and now we can eat bacon. His Roman collar marks him as a priest but I have known of priests who take the collar off and to not be faithful to their promise. Fr.,as he said, never wants to take Jesus off. Fr. Mike was our priest all during the Pandemic. He said Mass for us and his homilies blessed us with wisdom. He read to us from the Bible and opened our eyes and hearts to God’s word. I have been a Catholic all my life, Fr renewed my faith and trust in God through some tough times. I see Fr. Mike as a blessing even with a tattoo. God bless him always.

I came across this while getting ready for today's BIAY podcast...i too have some ink with a lot of meaning. And i am way older than you are, Father. I think your reasoning is well expressed. Also, offered my prayers at Mass and Holy Hour for you today. May God bless you and keep you faithful to your Call all the days of your life...your LONG life ;-)

Hi Father Mike. I love your tattoo. Thankyou for the wonderful explanation and your view on this subject. I have a beautiful wooden cross and 5 different colored roses entangled with cross on my back representing my mom and her 5 children. I always got my siblings back. I listen to the Bible in a year as well God Bless You Father Mike 💜💜💜

Your tattoo is wonderful, in that it represents your belief in Jesus and the passion you have for Him. I think it's great, well done and nicely thought out.

I am profoundly disappointed. "All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are lawful for me, but not all things edify." 1 Corinthians 10:23

Fr. Michael, if you said, that in Bible is written "do not get tatoo", and than you got one (even with Christian sign), there is a big perplexity. Please, be careful, you have a big responsibility of people mislead, especially young ones.

Awesome!! I got my 1st tattoos at age 52!! My son passed away and I got a few tattoos in his memory 🙏🏻♥️

Father Mike, I love the meaning of your tattoo and why you felt it was important for you to get it. I think it may open someone up to a conversation with you and that would be a fortunate experience for that person because you are an inspiring and beautiful person. It could be their conversation of a lifetime. I just found your channel and thank God that I did. ❤️

Gosh… honestly… HONESTLY… every time I have the opportunity to listen to whichever message it is you are wanting to get across, it just gets better and better. I mean ANYTIME, I happen to stumble across a new video, or even the many times I come seeking an opinion or thought from you, I am ever and continually struck by your perspective. I truly value the direction you give me in my personal journey to and with Christ. I don’t think I have ever pressed play on a video of yours, when I don’t feel enlightened at its end. Thank you, Father Mike, not only for EVERY single thing you do, but also for WHY you do it. What a beautiful soul it is that you are, and I feel so very blessed to have you existing among us. I know I can’t speak alone when I say how comforting it is to know that you are here, fighting the good fight, and very much in our corner! And by the way, I absolutely LOVE the new ink!

Dear father, I have a lot of respect for you as a person and as a priest. I am a mom and therefore I am going to put a comment on your channel because I think it is important to go deeper into this topic. I believe that you should also talk about the care that must be taken when one selects a place to get tattoos. You have to talk to young people about the hygiene of the place, and also about the spiritual part. There are spiritually contaminated places, it's not that I see demons everywhere. But yes, there are places spiritual contaminated , you can tell us that you are protected by the sacraments and faith - which is true - but this exists, and may cause spiritual problems. You should delve deeper into other things. You are a spiritual leader and priest. And our children listen to you. After my daughters listened to you, they went to put one on. They didn't even consult with us . It is true that we as parents do not like it. It is not even in my culture a love for this. For the reasons that I mentioned and for others, which I believe are valid. We've researched this for years. They excused themselves because you are a priest, and because they know that we respect and pray for priests every day. Unfortunately, my daughters did it for fashion and unwisely took advantage of your comment, which is more of an invitation. Please, as a mom and on behalf of my husband, I ask you to investigate further, to explain better in a longer video and not 5 min. A tattoo is for life. many blessings

I just discovered you and I already relate to you so much, I was raised since young aged as a Christian. Where I was from not many people believed in God and would judge me for being Christian and that left a big scare in my soul. I was a young Boy who played Ice Hockey and I was scared to admit that I go to church and that I embrace Jesus because I was scared of loosing Friends, of getting Judged and of not perceiving in my sport. At the Age of 17 I was still struggling a lot with it and it is at that moment that I decided to get my first tattoo. I decided to get a tattoo of Jesus, to make a promise to myself that I would never deny him again, that his relationship with me would be forever permanent. This helped me so much in being more open about my faith because with this tattoo there was no denying anything, teammates, Friends and Coaches would bring my tattoo up, and it would make me talk about my faith in him and praise Christ. I will forever Cherish this tattoo. I always felt like it was a bad reason for getting it, but you have opened my eyes! No more doubts, I love you Jesus! Thank you

Thank you Father for discussing this topic. This conversation was very helpful to me to understand the good and bad choices to get a tattoo.

You know, I love father Mark and I love his teachings. I’ve been following him for years and also encouraging my kids and others to listen to him, and I will continue to do so, but I don’t agree with tattoos at all, and to see a priest with them, is more shocking to me. I personally do not think that to have them will make you holier. Ask yourself: what would Jesus or Saint Paul said about them?

I've spent a lot of time lately watching old video footage from the 60's and 70's. Old film reels and whatnot. And one thing that's conspicuously noticeable about watching old footage of people from back in that time period is the lack of tattoos. It's not that they didn't have them back then. It used to be that pretty much the only people who had tattoos were bikers, sailors, and ex-cons--people you generally didn't want to mess around with. Those people got tattoos precisely because they didn't want to be like everybody else. Nowadays, they're everywhere. Everybody's got them, and this has slowly been building into a real pet peeve for me. It hit me one day when I was in line at the grocery store checkout: I was about the 5th person in line, and virtually everybody in front of me had one kind or another of some big, ugly budget tattoo on their calves, their thighs, their necks and arms. And suddenly from that point on, the whole thing started taking on a quality of absurdity in my mind. Actually, it's more than just absurdity at this point. it's becoming worn out, played out, cliche, overdone, banal and nauseatingly mainstream. I just wish we could take a breather with the tattoos or at least tap the brakes a little bit. It's amazing what peer pressure does to a society of otherwise alleged enlightened individuals. Now, people see it as a right of passage. A way to display their current "thing" or even virtue signal about some cause that animates them. At what point does it become idolatry? At no point? Now, someone wishing to be different from the crowd doesn't get a tattoo. Here's a biblical thought: When God expelled Adam and Eve from the garden, they were kicked out at the east gate. There was an eastward movement. When Cain killed his brother Abel, he went east into the land of Nod. When they built the tower of Babylon, those men were moving East toward Shinar. When Abraham and Lot stood on the hill getting ready to separate, Abraham told Lot, "You choose which way you want to go, I'll go the opposite way." Lot chose East, and eventually wound up in Sodom, and we all know the fate of that city. Abraham was the first one to go West. And what did God tell him? He told Abraham, "I'll give you everything you see: east, west, north and south. I'll give you ALL of it." Actually, Abraham had started his westward movement when God called him out of Ur of the Chaldeans. He trusted God, and it was credited to him as righteousness. Is the Christian willing to go west while the rest of the world treads all over each other trying to go east? That's the question.

I’ve been considering a cross over my heart for this reason! I don’t ever want there to be any doubt, any question, that I am a follower of Jesus! No matter what! I love your tattoo!

Love all your videos and posts, and I listen for hours daily! 😊. That tattoo is great and you’re always adorable!

As a former biologist, tattoos are an excellent way of getting Hepatitis C, even if new needles are used. Father, you should get a Hepatitis C test every 6 months for two years. Also, if you like donating blood, at the American Red Cross you will not be allowed to donate for a year. God bless! 🙏

Honestly with all the respect and love for Fr.Mike. It feels to me as if he was going through something. I don’t judge him at all he is still Fr.Mike but that action to get a tattoo has got me surprised. The reason is because things as special as the name Jesus is a tattoo you were on your heart and mind. Instead of showing it through tattoo is better to show it how Jesus did which was through service to others.On the side note If you are going through something is ok too. We are humans as long as our hearts are tattooed with God, the season you are going through will pass.

I love the tattoo. It is an outward sign of your faith and commitment to Jesus. How wonderful. I have a pink ribbon on my leg with "Survivor" in script hoping to spread hope to others. I received the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick while receiving chemo and what a blessing that was! Thinking about another tattoo (related to Jesus) and you have given me something to think about. Thanks Father Mike

Love this, thank you. Mind reminds me to show up as a warrior for myself first, no matter the cost.

What is with the tattoo? Don't lose sight of who you are and who you are representing. Jesus is within you. He is not a tattoo on your arm. You have a journey remember that. Don't be distracted by trendy superficial things. God bless you, Father Mike .... Stay focused.