memoir

– “Tattoos on the Heart” is a book by Gregory Boyle about his work with gang members in the housing projects
– The book features parables about kinship and the sacredness of life
– In 1990, the author’s work was featured on the television news program 60 Minutes
– The book recounts the author’s conversations with gang members, including one who expresses surprise at not finding monsters in Homeboy Industries
– There is a discussion about not turning gang members in to the police because of their belief in God
– The author reflects on the role of God in his life and the work of Homeboy Industries
– The book includes stories about individuals the author has encountered, such as a man named Rascal who decides to “let it marinate” in his heart
– One story involves the author encountering a man named Willy, who refers to God as his “dog” after praying
– The author reflects on his own upbringing and how he has come to realize that God’s love is for everyone through his experiences with the people of Dolores Mission
– The book describes a birthday party ritual at Dolores Mission where the celebration is not just for the person whose birthday it is, but for the community
– The author quotes Meister Eckhart, expressing the hope that our understanding of God will continue to expand
– The book includes personal narratives about conversations with teenagers who have experienced abuse and the support of their mothers
– There is a story about a man named Cesar, described as menacing but also vulnerable, and his interaction with the narrator at JCPenney
– The article recounts the author’s experience celebrating Mass in a village called Tirani, where the Quechua Indians have not seen a priest in a decade
– The author struggles through the liturgy with the help of health workers who read in Quechua
– After the Mass, an elderly Quechua woman confesses her sins for the first time in ten years
– “Tattoos on the Heart” is a collection of parables by Father Boyle, the founder of Homeboy Industries, which has served members of over half of the gangs in Los Angeles