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Tattoos on the Heart The Power of Boundless Compassion

by Gregory Boyle
Tattoos on the Heart The Power of Boundless Compassion

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ISBN13: 9781439153154
ISBN10: 1439153159
Condition: Standard


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Synopses & Reviews

Publisher Comments

How do you fight despair and learn to meet the world with a loving heart? How do you overcome shame? Stay faithful in spite of failure? No matter where people live or what their circumstances may be, everyone needs boundless, restorative love. Gorgeous and uplifting, Tattoos on the Heart amply demonstrates the impact unconditional love can have on your life.

As a pastor working in a neighborhood with the highest concentration of murderous gang activity in Los Angeles, Gregory Boyle created an organization to provide jobs, job training, and encouragement so that young people could work together and learn the mutual respect that comes from collaboration. Tattoos on the Heart is a breathtaking series of parables distilled from his twenty years in the barrio. Arranged by theme and filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, these essays offer a stirring look at how full our lives could be if we could find the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JCPenney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of Gods love. From ten-year-old Lula we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Pedro we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the darkness. In each chapter we benefit from Boyles wonderful, hard-earned wisdom. Inspired by faith but applicable to anyone trying to be good, these personal, unflinching stories are full of surprising revelations and observations of the community in which Boyle works and of the many lives he has helped save.

Erudite, down-to-earth, and utterly heartening, these essays about universal kinship and redemption are moving examples of the power of unconditional love in difficult times and the importance of fighting despair. With Gregory Boyles guidance, we can recognize our own wounds in the broken lives and daunting struggles of the men and women in these parables and learn to find joy in all of the people around us. Tattoos on the Heart reminds us that no life is less valuable than another.

Review

"Incandescent, always hope-filled and often hilarious. Boyle somehow maintains an exuberant voice that celebrates the strength, compassion and humanity of people often demonized. He simply highlights charity and goodness wherever they are found. Boyle intersperses his narratives about gang members and his work with them with theological and spiritual reflections from a variety of theologians, poets and other writers. By introducing book-buying, highly educated readers to people we may never otherwise encounter, Boyle aspires to "broaden the parameters of our kinship.'"--The Christian Century

Review

"An astonishing book . . . about suffering and dignity, death and resurrection, one of my favorite books in years. It is lovely and tough and tender beyond my ability to describe and left me in tears of both sorrow and laughter."—ANNE LAMOTT, AUTHOR OF GRACE (EVENTUALLY)

Review

"Father Boyle reminds us all that every single child and youth is a part of God’s ‘jurisdiction’—and when they know that we are seeing them as God does, they are capable of great things. Father Boyle is a national treasure."

—MARIAN WRIGHT EDELMAN, PRESIDENT, CHILDREN’S DEFENSE FUND

Review

"Sometimes we are allowed to see in our own lifetimes what we were supposed to see in the life and ministry of Jesus. Read, and let your life be changed!"

—FATHER RICHARD ROHR, O.F.M., CENTER FOR ACTION AND CONTEMPLATION, ALBUQUERQUE, NEW MEXICO

Review

"Tattoos on the Heart is an astounding book and a remarkable testament. No one brings more triumph and tragedy to the street gang story than Greg Boyle. No one brings more conviction and compassion than Greg Boyle. And no one writes the gang story more beautifully."

—MALCOLM KLEIN, PROFESSOR EMERITUS, UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA

Review

"A spiritual masterpiece touching the innermost sanctum of the human soul. Boyle approaches each person as a child of God and fully deserving of love and compassion. His capacity to reach the heart of the most hardened, and to see the best in everyone, inspires. I laughed, wept, and underlined on virtually every page."

—KERRY KENNEDY, FOUNDER OF THE RFK CENTER FOR JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS

Review

"An extraordinary reflection of a life totally committed to reshaping and redirecting the lives of countless young gang members (from L.A.’s gang culture), Greg Boyle’s Tattoos on the Heart proves one man with courage is a majority." —MARTIN SHEEN

Review

"Tattoos on the Heart is an honest, raw, and compelling collection from Father Greg Boyle’s life and work with gang-involved youth. His commitment should teach us all a lesson in compromise, sharing, learning, loving, and, most important, living life to the fullest." —ANJELICA HUSTON

Review

“Destined to become a classic of both urban reportage and contemporary spirituality.”

—The Los Angeles Times

Review

"One of the bravest, most humane, heartbreaking, brilliant, and hopeful stories I’ve read in ages. Father Greg, the Gandhi of the Gangs, fills Tattoos with unquenchable soul force and down-to-earth love." —JACK KORNFIELD, AUTHOR OF A PATH WITH HEART

Synopsis

Gregory Boyle presents an awe-inspiring series of parables about universal kinship and redemption distilled from his twenty years of experience running a gang-intervention program, and demonstrates the remarkable power of unconditional love.
"Destined to become a classic of both urban reportage and contemporary spirituality" ( Los Angeles Times )-- Tattoos on the Heart is a series of parables about kinship and redemption from pastor, activist, and renowned speaker, Father Gregory Boyle--now in paperback.
For twenty years, Father Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles--also known as the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, he has distilled his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith.
From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JC Penney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God's love. From ten-year-old Pipi we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Lulu we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the dark--as Father Boyle phrases it, we can only shine a flashlight on a light switch in a darkened room.
This is a motivating look at how to stay faithful in spite of failure, how to meet the world with a loving heart, and how to conquer shame with boundless, restorative love.

Synopsis

For twenty years, Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles, the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, he distills his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith. Arranged by theme and filled with sparkling humor and glowing generosity, these essays offer a stirring look at how full our lives could be if we could find the joy in loving others and in being loved unconditionally. From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JCPenney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God's love. From ten-year-old Lula we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Pedro we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the darkness. In each chapter we benefit from Boyle’s gentle, hard-earned wisdom.

These essays about universal kinship and redemption are moving examples of the power of unconditional love and the importance of fighting despair. Gorgeous and uplifting, Tattoos on the Heart reminds us that no life is less valuable than another.

 

Synopsis

“Destined to become a classic of both urban reportage and contemporary spirituality” ( Los Angeles Times )— Tattoos on the Heart is a series of parables about kinship and redemption from pastor, activist, and renowned speaker, Father Gregory Boyle—now in paperback.

For twenty years, Father Gregory Boyle has run Homeboy Industries, a gang-intervention program located in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles—also known as the gang capital of the world. In Tattoos on the Heart, he has distilled his experience working in the ghetto into a breathtaking series of parables inspired by faith.

From giant, tattooed Cesar, shopping at JC Penney fresh out of prison, we learn how to feel worthy of God’s love. From ten-year-old Pipi we learn the importance of being known and acknowledged. From Lulu we understand the kind of patience necessary to rescue someone from the dark—as Father Boyle phrases it, we can only shine a flashlight on a light switch in a darkened room.

This is a motivating look at how to stay faithful in spite of failure, how to meet the world with a loving heart, and how to conquer shame with boundless, restorative love.


About the Author

Father Gregory Boyle was ordained a Jesuit priest in 1982. He received his Master of Divinity from the Weston School of Theology; and a Sacred Theology Masters degree from the Jesuit School of Theology. In 1988, Father Boyle began what would become Homeboy Industries, now located in downtown Los Angeles. Fr. Greg received the California Peace Prize, the “Humanitarian of the Year” Award from Bon AppÉtit; the Caring Institute’s 2007 Most Caring People Award; and received the 2008 Civic Medal of Honor from the Los Angeles Chamber of Commerce. 

Since 1986, Father Gregory has been the pastor of Dolores Mission in the Boyle Heights neighborhood of Los Angeles. The church sits between two large public housing projects, Pico Gardens and Aliso Village, known for decades as the gang capital of the world. There are 1,100 gangs encompassing 86,000 members in Los Angeles, and Boyle Heights has the highest concentration of murderous gang activity in the city. Since Father Greg—also known affectionately as G-dog, started Homeboy Industries nearly twenty years ago, it has served members of more than half of the gangs in Los Angeles. In Homeboy Industries’ various businesses—baking, silkscreening, landscaping—gang affiliations are left outside as young people work together, side by side, learning the mutual respect that comes from building something together.


5 7

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Average customer rating 5 (7 comments)

`
Beverly B , September 07, 2015 (view all comments by Beverly B)
Tatoos on the Heart is humbling and inspiring book. Gregory Boyle is living proof that one person can change the world and do it without money or power. He changes the world one "loser" at a time by recognizing that some people are so emotionally damaged by their circumstances they need multiple chances, mountains of patience from mentors and opportunties to feel significant. Father Boyle says "Nothing stops a bullet like a job." I'd add, and a mentor to show the way to that job.

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kamarotico , October 21, 2014 (view all comments by kamarotico)
Tattoos on the Heart was recommended to me by a friend and I am so grateful to her for telling me about this wonderful book. Father Gregory Boyle shares a few of the stories of the gang members whose lives he has changed through Homeboy Industries. Some of the stories are sad while others are funny, but all are moving. Father Boyle shares these tales with respect, compassion, and love for each individual; while never condoning their bad behavior he encourages them to leave behind their gangs and step into the future. After reading this book I began to think about what I could do to make a difference... it is really that inspiring.

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Suzanne Oxford , May 01, 2014 (view all comments by Suzanne Oxford)
This book was well worth reading. Father G, as he is affectionately known by the gang members, could be compared to Mother Teresa or Ghandi. He has devoted his life to helping the poor, who turn out to be homies from many different gangs who mainly live in the housing projects of Boyle Heights. He is the founder of Homeboy Industries which provides jobs for gang members who want to change. They must be willing to make the change, removing their tattoos, refraining from their former gang banging, etc. This is such an inspirational Christian book. The message here is love and compassion. Father Gregg preaches a message that God loves you no matter what. He is totally involved in helping these young homies. When they are shot, he races to the hospitals, if they die, he performs the ceremony at the funerals. He even takes one young man to JC Penney's when he needs clothing. I highly recommend reading this book. It is full of humor, laughs, but also very sad and will make you cry. Father G is truly remarkable. Do not miss this one.

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malibusu , January 01, 2013
This book inspires hope. I laughed or cried on every other page.

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Sister Wren , January 01, 2013
Greg Boyle writes with awesome compassion about members of Latino street gangs and how compassion and love transform lives. His stories often made me laugh, but I kept a handkerchief close by for the whole read.

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Jolly woman , August 02, 2012 (view all comments by Jolly woman)
In this era of continuous homage to survival of the fittest and rugged individualism it is inspiring--breathe deeply-- to read about the power of compassion and community. Is love stronger than fear, hate or apathy? Read for yourself. Tattoos on the Heart: the Power of Boundless Compassion is a collection of non-fiction snapshots of lives of gang members in Los Angeles who choose to move into the power of compassion and are loved into new community. These are not fluffy sweet stories of conversion and happily ever after. These are about people who are by turns hilarious, tenacious, frustrating, scary and inspiring, and about the strength of compassion to make a way where there was no way. With sweat, ferocity, laughter, faith, the beloved community that Dr. King helped to build continues to be forged in L.A. from gang rivals, church ladies, and every day people. The boundless compassion of God is accessible and strong. Tired of envisioning dystopias? Read about a part of our real world that is increasingly powered and transformed by compassion.

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lila hope , January 01, 2012
whatever the question, compassion is the answer. Father Greg Boyle beautifully shows how living by this rule opens hearts, even the most defended ones.

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Product Details

ISBN:
9781439153154
Binding:
Trade Paperback
Publication date:
02/22/2011
Publisher:
SIMON & SCHUSTER TRADE
Pages:
240
Height:
.70IN
Width:
5.50IN
Thickness:
.50
Number of Units:
1
Copyright Year:
2011
Author:
Gregory Boyle
Author:
Grego
Author:
ry Boyle
Author:
Gregory Boyle
Subject:
Personal Memoirs
Subject:
Christianity-Spiritual Growth
Subject:
Father Gregory Boyle, Tattoos on the Heart, kinship, redemption, pastor, activist, speaker, Homeboy Industries, gang-intervention, Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, gang capital of the world, ghetto, faith, inspiration, prison, god, religion, California Peace P

Ships free on qualified orders.
Add to Cart
$10.95
List Price:$17.99
Used Trade Paperback
Ships in 1 to 3 days
Add to Wishlist
QtyStore
5Burnside
2Cedar Hills
2Hawthorne
19Local Warehouse

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  • New, Trade Paperback, $17.99
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