The Catholic Sacred Heart Tattoo
This medieval symbol of the sacrifice made by Jesus Christ is particularly popular with the Catholic Church. It is meant to illustrate the love of God and the light he provides, while the thorns remind us of the trials that Jesus made in order to save our souls.
Of course a heart on its own can have many meanings: love, charity, piety, sorrow and joy.
The sacred heart is a symbol of God’s love for all of mankind. The crown of thorns is piercing the heart, making it bleed, which is to remind us of Christ’s sacrifice for us.
The image first appeared from early Christian mystics who saw in their visions a heart inside a circle. It appeared in artwork commissioned by Jesuits and Franciscans as well as in books.
In 1673 there was a French nun named Marguerite Marie Alacoque who claimed to have seen Jesus in her visions, who described his heart as being inflamed with love for humankind and wanted her to spread the word of his love. After she died the city of Marseilles was consecrated to the Sacred Heart in the hope it would spare them from the plague.
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