What do you think?
Rate this book
Tattoos on the Heart: The Power of Boundless Compassion
Father Gregory Boyle’s sparkling parables about kinship and the sacredness of life are drawn from twenty years working with gangs in LA.
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 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 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 Boyle’s 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.
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 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 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 Boyle’s 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.
240 pages, Hardcover
First published March 9, 2009
About the author
Gregory Boyle
14 books544 followersAs Executive Director of Homeboy Industries and an acknowledged expert on gangs and intervention approaches, Fr. Boyle is an internationally renowned speaker. He has given commencement addresses at numerous universities, as well as spoken at conferences for teachers, social workers, criminal justice workers and others about the importance of adult attention, guidance and unconditional love in preventing youth from joining gangs. Fr. Greg and several “homies” were featured speakers at the White House Conference on Youth in 2005 at the personal invitation of Mrs. George Bush. In 1998 he was a member of the 10-person California delegation to President Clinton’s Summit on Children in Philadelphia. Fr. Greg is also a consultant to youth service and governmental agencies, policy-makers and employers. Fr. Boyle serves as a member of the National Gang Center Advisory Board (U.S. Department of Justice, Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention). He is also a member of the Advisory Board for the Loyola Law School Center for Juvenile Law and Policy in Los Angeles. Previously, he held an appointment to the California Commission on Juvenile Justice, Crime and Delinquency Prevention.
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,765 reviews
October 9, 2012
This book makes me want to love better. PERIOD. I have never had such a clear picture of how God loves even me... especially me. Everyone should read this book and buy 10 copies to give away. All proceeds go to Homeboy Industries.
January 2, 2012
It is interesting to me that if you read about people who work with the most wounded of human beings, they tend to have a very expansive view of God and a very inclusive Christian theology.
Fr. Greg Boyle works with Latino gangs in the public housing projects of LA. (I could have said "gang-infested" projects but Fr. Boyle makes a point in the book about language which brings shame to "life and love challenged" kids- I mean what do you think of when you say something is "infested"?) Instead he says, "Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment of how they carry it."
The book is divided into chapters that stress a theological point and then he illustrates it with stories from his 20 years as director of Homeboy Industries, the ministry he started to help willing kids get a job and get out of the gang life.("parables inspired by faith") Unfortunately, many of the stories end in funerals since the sense of worthlessness among these "throw-away" kids is very deep. What I liked is that he didn't go into blame. Blame leads to shame which excludes the possibility of grace and hope.
Instead he chooses love and compassion, expressed most often as just listening, calling them by their true names, and finding a place for them as equals in the world. (Though he shares some stories where he does get mad when kids self destruct.) So be prepared for some tears as these essays and short "sermons" do pull at your heart strings. The little sermonettes are often enriched by quotes from some of my favorite authors and poets: Pema Chodron, Marcus Borg, Mary Oliver, Emily Dickenson, Richard Rohr, Al Sharpton(!),James Gilligan and Mother Teresa. (A companion book might be Borg's "The Heart of Christianity")
One minor complaint is how often he uses latino language which at first was educational, but later began to bother me. I'd have to stop the sentence flow and translate ( not being good at languages made it a problem for me) and I don't recall any stories from the last 10 years. Perhaps it takes time to reflect but most of the book takes place 10-20 years ago.
And a caviat -The reasons given for showing compassion are wrapped in Judeo-Christian theology. Compassion and love, however, are not unique to Christianity. "Standing with" the poor is the heart of any spirituality or religion expressed in hundreds of versions of the "golden rule".
That does not change the impact of the wisdom in this book. For many Christians, it will open your heart to realize that your God has been too small.
Fr. Greg Boyle works with Latino gangs in the public housing projects of LA. (I could have said "gang-infested" projects but Fr. Boyle makes a point in the book about language which brings shame to "life and love challenged" kids- I mean what do you think of when you say something is "infested"?) Instead he says, "Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe at what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment of how they carry it."
The book is divided into chapters that stress a theological point and then he illustrates it with stories from his 20 years as director of Homeboy Industries, the ministry he started to help willing kids get a job and get out of the gang life.("parables inspired by faith") Unfortunately, many of the stories end in funerals since the sense of worthlessness among these "throw-away" kids is very deep. What I liked is that he didn't go into blame. Blame leads to shame which excludes the possibility of grace and hope.
Instead he chooses love and compassion, expressed most often as just listening, calling them by their true names, and finding a place for them as equals in the world. (Though he shares some stories where he does get mad when kids self destruct.) So be prepared for some tears as these essays and short "sermons" do pull at your heart strings. The little sermonettes are often enriched by quotes from some of my favorite authors and poets: Pema Chodron, Marcus Borg, Mary Oliver, Emily Dickenson, Richard Rohr, Al Sharpton(!),James Gilligan and Mother Teresa. (A companion book might be Borg's "The Heart of Christianity")
One minor complaint is how often he uses latino language which at first was educational, but later began to bother me. I'd have to stop the sentence flow and translate ( not being good at languages made it a problem for me) and I don't recall any stories from the last 10 years. Perhaps it takes time to reflect but most of the book takes place 10-20 years ago.
And a caviat -The reasons given for showing compassion are wrapped in Judeo-Christian theology. Compassion and love, however, are not unique to Christianity. "Standing with" the poor is the heart of any spirituality or religion expressed in hundreds of versions of the "golden rule".
That does not change the impact of the wisdom in this book. For many Christians, it will open your heart to realize that your God has been too small.
September 10, 2022
My Goodreads friend Kimber recently said to me: God is in the infinite.
I’ve been researching and trying to understand what this means, and I think it’s something to do with God existing outside of time and linear order.
This newly adopted verbiage leads me to assert that Gregory Boyle’s God is more infinite than the standard-issue evangelical God. Because even as Boyle quotes well-worn scriptures I know like the back of my hand, he subverts them, or releases them, into something more… infinite.
One illustration can be seen in a verse I read today:
After a few minutes of pondering this scripture over my morning coffee, I felt confused, and stressed out, and very, very angry.
Like, what… if I really loved you I’d obey all your orders. And only if I somehow manage to pull that off, you’ll maybe come and spend the night with me? And if I’m really lucky, maybe you’ll even put some of your shit in one of my drawers. Of course, you won’t completely move in yet, because I’m bound to screw up tomorrow, so you’ll have to grab your things and go (or stay and make me understand how much it pains you to do so) until I can get my act together enough to repent and try again?
But in Boyle’s translation of this verse, it’s more infinite, and that makes the order of things completely different. This same bible verse becomes something more like:
I love you. So if you’re into me, too, I’d love to move in with you. If you only trust me enough to give me a drawer, I’ll take it. Because baby, I’d drink your bath water. But whenever you want, if ever you want, we can go down to City Hall and make this legal because I’m telling you: I’m all in. Doing daily life together, I hope you’ll see how well I treat you, loving you in practical ways, loving you in silly romantic ways. I’m not some ordinary man or woman who’s out to boss you around or steal your shit or use you to inflate my own fragile ego. I’m the Creator, baby, and I made the world to work in a good, good way. No pressure. No hurry. No threat of eternal burning flames if I’m not your cup of tea. Just a hope you’ll let me love you the way I’m dying (did die, did rise, on infinite loop) to love you.
…
See the difference?
And before you go saying your evangelical church teaches Boyle’s version of that scripture, I call bullshit. Like Paul in scripture gave his pedigree to prove a point, let me give you mine: third generation evangelical on both maternal and paternal sides, preacher’s daughter, bible school graduate, pastor, short-term missionary to numerous countries, visitor and sometimes co-founder of regular and experimental communities of faith across America. I’ve spent my life in camp meetings, revivals, Sunday and mid-week services, bible studies, intercessory prayer meetings, potlucks, outreaches, discipleships, inner healing programs of various stripes, intentional communities, homeless shelters, reservations, orphanages, old folks’ homes, fringe meetups, theological intensives, bible quizzes, summer camps, women’s groups, and on and on past the break of dawn. I’m confident I know what the heck I’m talking about when I say my first interpretation, the one that made me so angry, is what’s beneath the surface of every flowery promise coming from virtually (Okay?! I said virtually. Maybe I’m wrong and your church is different) every evangelical pulpit on the planet.
And now I’ll admit my weakness: I don’t know what this scripture - Boyle’s version of it - means for people who don’t feel the need to believe in someone named Jesus. Like, there are other religions, right? Plus, there are agnostics and atheists. So, I will ignorantly assume there’s some deity or non-deity in your sphere who wants to move into your place and be good to you. But I’m sorry, I haven’t gotten that far in my understanding yet.
For right now, all I can do is cry when Boyle interprets these scriptures, on which I was weaned, according to the infinite, and when he shares stories of gangsters in East LA who go from never knowing real love to being completely and totally transformed (softened, filled, built) by it. In fact, I kept a running total, and Boyle’s historias y parábolas made me break down in tears 26 times during this read. And this is my third Boyle book, so I’m crying less than I did while reading the other two. I don’t consider myself a cry baby, but I am where Boyle is concerned.
I think all I can personally give God right now is a drawer, or maybe a spare bedroom, or a shed in the backyard, and that much only if he/she promises not to be an asshole (even a low-key one) about every little thing I do or don’t do right. I lived, I guess, with a different God before, and it was a pretty gnarly relationship. Not all the time, mind you. Sometimes that God was more wonderful than I can express. But there was enough of an underbelly to make me black and blue, inside and out, and I’m not willing to rescind my restraining order, like, ever.
Still, I would like to try and be loved by the real thing. And to love the real thing in return. I think that if I stop trying to know real, ultimate, infinite love, I’ll stop being Sarah altogether. And I’m not willing to do that, either.
P.S. I promise not to write about God all the time on GR. I know that can get annoying; I’m just processing a bit right now, so… have mercy?
Book/Song Pairing: Lovesick (Haley Reinhart)
I’ve been researching and trying to understand what this means, and I think it’s something to do with God existing outside of time and linear order.
This newly adopted verbiage leads me to assert that Gregory Boyle’s God is more infinite than the standard-issue evangelical God. Because even as Boyle quotes well-worn scriptures I know like the back of my hand, he subverts them, or releases them, into something more… infinite.
One illustration can be seen in a verse I read today:
Jesus replied, "If anyone loves me, he will obey my teaching. My Father will love him, and we will come to him and make our home with him."
—John 14:23
After a few minutes of pondering this scripture over my morning coffee, I felt confused, and stressed out, and very, very angry.
Like, what… if I really loved you I’d obey all your orders. And only if I somehow manage to pull that off, you’ll maybe come and spend the night with me? And if I’m really lucky, maybe you’ll even put some of your shit in one of my drawers. Of course, you won’t completely move in yet, because I’m bound to screw up tomorrow, so you’ll have to grab your things and go (or stay and make me understand how much it pains you to do so) until I can get my act together enough to repent and try again?
But in Boyle’s translation of this verse, it’s more infinite, and that makes the order of things completely different. This same bible verse becomes something more like:
I love you. So if you’re into me, too, I’d love to move in with you. If you only trust me enough to give me a drawer, I’ll take it. Because baby, I’d drink your bath water. But whenever you want, if ever you want, we can go down to City Hall and make this legal because I’m telling you: I’m all in. Doing daily life together, I hope you’ll see how well I treat you, loving you in practical ways, loving you in silly romantic ways. I’m not some ordinary man or woman who’s out to boss you around or steal your shit or use you to inflate my own fragile ego. I’m the Creator, baby, and I made the world to work in a good, good way. No pressure. No hurry. No threat of eternal burning flames if I’m not your cup of tea. Just a hope you’ll let me love you the way I’m dying (did die, did rise, on infinite loop) to love you.
…
See the difference?
And before you go saying your evangelical church teaches Boyle’s version of that scripture, I call bullshit. Like Paul in scripture gave his pedigree to prove a point, let me give you mine: third generation evangelical on both maternal and paternal sides, preacher’s daughter, bible school graduate, pastor, short-term missionary to numerous countries, visitor and sometimes co-founder of regular and experimental communities of faith across America. I’ve spent my life in camp meetings, revivals, Sunday and mid-week services, bible studies, intercessory prayer meetings, potlucks, outreaches, discipleships, inner healing programs of various stripes, intentional communities, homeless shelters, reservations, orphanages, old folks’ homes, fringe meetups, theological intensives, bible quizzes, summer camps, women’s groups, and on and on past the break of dawn. I’m confident I know what the heck I’m talking about when I say my first interpretation, the one that made me so angry, is what’s beneath the surface of every flowery promise coming from virtually (Okay?! I said virtually. Maybe I’m wrong and your church is different) every evangelical pulpit on the planet.
And now I’ll admit my weakness: I don’t know what this scripture - Boyle’s version of it - means for people who don’t feel the need to believe in someone named Jesus. Like, there are other religions, right? Plus, there are agnostics and atheists. So, I will ignorantly assume there’s some deity or non-deity in your sphere who wants to move into your place and be good to you. But I’m sorry, I haven’t gotten that far in my understanding yet.
For right now, all I can do is cry when Boyle interprets these scriptures, on which I was weaned, according to the infinite, and when he shares stories of gangsters in East LA who go from never knowing real love to being completely and totally transformed (softened, filled, built) by it. In fact, I kept a running total, and Boyle’s historias y parábolas made me break down in tears 26 times during this read. And this is my third Boyle book, so I’m crying less than I did while reading the other two. I don’t consider myself a cry baby, but I am where Boyle is concerned.
I think all I can personally give God right now is a drawer, or maybe a spare bedroom, or a shed in the backyard, and that much only if he/she promises not to be an asshole (even a low-key one) about every little thing I do or don’t do right. I lived, I guess, with a different God before, and it was a pretty gnarly relationship. Not all the time, mind you. Sometimes that God was more wonderful than I can express. But there was enough of an underbelly to make me black and blue, inside and out, and I’m not willing to rescind my restraining order, like, ever.
Still, I would like to try and be loved by the real thing. And to love the real thing in return. I think that if I stop trying to know real, ultimate, infinite love, I’ll stop being Sarah altogether. And I’m not willing to do that, either.
P.S. I promise not to write about God all the time on GR. I know that can get annoying; I’m just processing a bit right now, so… have mercy?
Book/Song Pairing: Lovesick (Haley Reinhart)
December 9, 2017
It could be the thing I like best about Boyle’s stories are the changes made to one word of common phrases so that the meanings come up again, fresh and clear and relatable, like “wash your iniquities,” or “I hear your cancer’s in intermission.”
The other thing I enjoy Father Boyle’s work for is to hear how he takes the thoughts and work of others to meditate on. In this book he quotes the poet Mary Oliver many times, Rumi, Mother Teresa, Pema Chödrön, among others. There is always something interesting in what those leaders of thought say, and also in how Father Boyle chooses to apply their lessons to his daily life and ministry.
And let’s put this in perspective. I am not a religious person, having become inured to such teachings in Catholic schools—how did they manage to strip the joy and beauty out of love, for cripes’ sake? And then, of course, the scandal that enveloped the Catholic Church, revealing even ordained ministers to be hypocrites…
Since then I just try to pay attention. When goodness appears in our daily life, what happens? When evil appears, what happens? How to deal with evil? How to consider at the bad things people do? How to look at the people who do these bad things? Father Boyle gives us his answers to these questions. He’s interesting, and he seems to be able to transform bad attitudes into good ones.
He has written only two books, both of which are wonderful to read, but are also good texts for meditation, since his writing style are short…parables, really. Boyle has a M.A. in English, and his ability to write may reflect his interest in reading. But take for example, his paraphrase of Mother Teresa:
The other thing I enjoy Father Boyle’s work for is to hear how he takes the thoughts and work of others to meditate on. In this book he quotes the poet Mary Oliver many times, Rumi, Mother Teresa, Pema Chödrön, among others. There is always something interesting in what those leaders of thought say, and also in how Father Boyle chooses to apply their lessons to his daily life and ministry.
And let’s put this in perspective. I am not a religious person, having become inured to such teachings in Catholic schools—how did they manage to strip the joy and beauty out of love, for cripes’ sake? And then, of course, the scandal that enveloped the Catholic Church, revealing even ordained ministers to be hypocrites…
Since then I just try to pay attention. When goodness appears in our daily life, what happens? When evil appears, what happens? How to deal with evil? How to consider at the bad things people do? How to look at the people who do these bad things? Father Boyle gives us his answers to these questions. He’s interesting, and he seems to be able to transform bad attitudes into good ones.
He has written only two books, both of which are wonderful to read, but are also good texts for meditation, since his writing style are short…parables, really. Boyle has a M.A. in English, and his ability to write may reflect his interest in reading. But take for example, his paraphrase of Mother Teresa:
“We’ve just forgotten that we belong to each other.”You can put that at the beginning of a tale or at the end. It says it all.
Read
June 11, 2010I should mention, first, for the benefit of anyone who doesn't live in Los Angeles or follow closely the arena of gang prevention, that Father Greg Boyle is the founder of Homeboy Industries, the most well-known gang prevention program in the gang capital of the US, Los Angeles. The organization's slogan is "Nothing stops a bullet like a job," and Father Boyle (or "G" as he is known) has made it his vocation to hire convicted felons straight out of jail and employ them in various Homeboy enterprises. They run a bakery, a screen-printing factory, they wash cars, they sell merchandise.
Tattoos on the Heart compiles the many extraordinary stories Father Boyle tells in casual sermon format, the stories that both sprinkle and structure his public speaking. He recently received an honorary degree at Occidental College's graduation, and his central message when he spoke was that we must create kinship. He said, "We are sent to create a community of kinship such that God might recognize it." That actually followed a joke that went like:
The homies, they teach me things. For example, they're teaching me how to text. I was driving a homie home, and he got a text on his phone. "What does it say?" I asked him. He said, its Louie. He says they've got him locked up in County holding facilities. He says they're charging him with being the ugliest vato in the universe. He says, "You need to come down here and show them they've got the wrong guy!"
Father Greg let everybody at the Oxy commencement laugh. Then he said that right after this went down he appreciated that these two guys used to be members of rival gangs. They used to shoot bullets at each other. Now they shoot texts at each other. He ended by repeating what he had opened with. We are sent to create a community of kinship, such that God might recognize it.
I don't know who God is, but this statement really stayed with me. It put all the infighting and disagreements in the bike advocacy community in LA in perspective. If rival gangs can get together and bake bread and hold down jobs, and even rib each other via text, surely LA's bike activists can put any hurts behind and aim for a higher purpose.
This is one of the only books I read during my first year of graduate school. I found time to read it because it forced me to - I couldn't put it down. Like an episode of This American Life, the book wanders all over the globe, from wacky circumstances to the improbable and seemingly miraculous. Fr. Boyle connects it all, somehow, makes it all attest to the immense possibility in this world, to our essential connectedness, our ineffable grace, our clumsy humanity... to deeper lessons than I can pretend to regurgitate in this review. I will need to revisit this book many times.
All of us, especially those of us who are trying to fire up social movements or make change, need spiritual leaders. I trust Father Boyle (a fact all the more amazing because of my distrust of religious institutions, especially patriarchal, homophobic ones). I trust him because of his overflowing armful of stories and the way his narration focuses on the actions of all the people around him, in all their shapes and sizes and backgrounds and quirks and graces and flaws. We must understand this kind of principled humility if we are to do any worthwhile work in this world.
Addendum: Homeboy has been hit hard by the recession. They really need your money, I mean, they really need it or they can't hire any more homies! They just laid off almost all of their staff, leaving only their core outlets, like the bakery and the printshop. Learn more about them and donate here.
Read
April 13, 2021I think I cried more listening to this book than any book - and that's saying a lot. I think I laughed more reading this book than most books I have read. Father Gregory Boyle, a Jesuit priest and founder of Homeboy Industries (whose motto is "Nothing stops a bullet like a job") in Los Angeles, has dedicated most of his life to working with gang members in the projects in L.A. He is my new hero. His life is dedicated to compassion and inclusion and joy, and his God touches my heart like no other. His courage and steadfastness in the face of heartbreaking death as well as heartwarming transformation is truly inspirational. Through his "parables" we meet many young men and women that become less "scary" as we see them laugh and cry and struggle. And Father G introduces us to the guiding principles of his life and we see how he lives them. As I listened, I found myself thinking I had to remember something he said, but then along came another, and another, and another something to remember. This book makes me want expand my compassion and inspires me to be a better person.
A very few of many "somethings" I want to remember:
"Close both eyes, see with the other one. Then we are no longer saddled by the burden of our persistent judgments, our ceaseless withholding, our constant exclusion. Our sphere has widened and we find ourselves quite unexpectedly in a new expansive location, in a place of endless acceptance and infinite love."
"If there is a fundamental challenge within these stories, it is simply to change our lurking suspicion that some lives matter less than other lives."
"Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe of what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it."
"You stand with the least likely to succeed until success is succeeded by something more valuable: kinship. You stand with the belligerent, the surly, and the badly behaved until bad behavior is recognized for the language it is: the vocabulary of the deeply wounded and of those whose burdens are more than they can bear."
A very few of many "somethings" I want to remember:
"Close both eyes, see with the other one. Then we are no longer saddled by the burden of our persistent judgments, our ceaseless withholding, our constant exclusion. Our sphere has widened and we find ourselves quite unexpectedly in a new expansive location, in a place of endless acceptance and infinite love."
"If there is a fundamental challenge within these stories, it is simply to change our lurking suspicion that some lives matter less than other lives."
"Here is what we seek: a compassion that can stand in awe of what the poor have to carry rather than stand in judgment at how they carry it."
"You stand with the least likely to succeed until success is succeeded by something more valuable: kinship. You stand with the belligerent, the surly, and the badly behaved until bad behavior is recognized for the language it is: the vocabulary of the deeply wounded and of those whose burdens are more than they can bear."
October 14, 2013
I have always been a little left of center; deeply spiritual, not terribly religious; a modern day hunter and gatherer of theological principles and wisdom. I imagine something akin to a recycling center inside my head. Everything separated and compartmentalized, waiting to be processed and then smooshed into something new; something that I can use...that `fits' me. In this new creation bits and pieces of many great spiritual traditions are found and the unused portions are released, like mist into the ethos, to be used by others. For me, this works.
That being said, I have just finished, Tattoos On The Heart, by Jesuit Priest Gregory Boyle, a small-yet significant book with great impact; a book, that incorporates bits and pieces from many great spiritual traditions; and therefore...works.
In its simplest definition, it is a series of parables; succinct stories, which illustrates one or more instructive principles. Analogies, which you can reduce, reuse and recycle. From Mother Teresa to Rumi to the `homies in the hood'; the wisdom, the lessons, the parables are relayed with such a raw and stark truth, that we cannot help but consider, that we are here for the sake of others; that are souls are connected through some cosmic bond.
Tattoos On The Heart is about Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention program, located in the gang capital of the world; Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California. But it is not a story about gangs. It is written by a Jesuit Priest, Gregory Boyle, who has traveled to many places in the world, as a missionary; but it is not a story about religion. It has received the California Peace Prize and numerous humanitarian awards ; but it is not a story about rewards for worthy behavior. What it is about is compassion, learning, growing, falling, stumbling, getting up, moving on and moving beyond. It is about hope. From 10 year old Lula, we learn about the importance of hearing our name, of being known. From Matteo and Julian, we learn to dissolve the illusion of separateness. From Fabian we learn that by latching onto the singularity of love, it doesn't melt who we are, but who we are not. Story after inspiring story we learn, we grow, we stumble, we fall, we get up, we move on-together.
Ultimately, these stories, and this book, are about transformation; for the reader and the subject, because in the end, we are truly more alike than unalike.
That being said, I have just finished, Tattoos On The Heart, by Jesuit Priest Gregory Boyle, a small-yet significant book with great impact; a book, that incorporates bits and pieces from many great spiritual traditions; and therefore...works.
In its simplest definition, it is a series of parables; succinct stories, which illustrates one or more instructive principles. Analogies, which you can reduce, reuse and recycle. From Mother Teresa to Rumi to the `homies in the hood'; the wisdom, the lessons, the parables are relayed with such a raw and stark truth, that we cannot help but consider, that we are here for the sake of others; that are souls are connected through some cosmic bond.
Tattoos On The Heart is about Homeboy Industries, a gang intervention program, located in the gang capital of the world; Boyle Heights, Los Angeles, California. But it is not a story about gangs. It is written by a Jesuit Priest, Gregory Boyle, who has traveled to many places in the world, as a missionary; but it is not a story about religion. It has received the California Peace Prize and numerous humanitarian awards ; but it is not a story about rewards for worthy behavior. What it is about is compassion, learning, growing, falling, stumbling, getting up, moving on and moving beyond. It is about hope. From 10 year old Lula, we learn about the importance of hearing our name, of being known. From Matteo and Julian, we learn to dissolve the illusion of separateness. From Fabian we learn that by latching onto the singularity of love, it doesn't melt who we are, but who we are not. Story after inspiring story we learn, we grow, we stumble, we fall, we get up, we move on-together.
Ultimately, these stories, and this book, are about transformation; for the reader and the subject, because in the end, we are truly more alike than unalike.
November 19, 2010
This book tells the story on Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries in LA, and those of the "homies" that he serves. The organization helps gang members in LA find work, get their tattoos removed, and have a fresh start. I was inspired by how beautifully Fr. Boyle lives out his Christian faith. I think a lot of people could learn from his example of truly serving the poor and expressing love rather than judgment. However, as someone who is not a Christian some of his messages didn't resonate with me. Several times Fr. Boyle makes the statement that there is no reason to be compassionate or serve other humans except for Jesus or because of faith. I personally believe that there are many non-religious reasons to express love to other humans and value their inherent worth and dignity no matter what they have done in the past. It was hard from me to how some of the messages could apply to non-Christians. That aside, this book gave me a strong appreciation for the circumstances and lives that lead to people ending up in gangs. I found the book a bit repetitive, but to have a completely unique voice and perspective.
February 18, 2019
Fr. Boyle has spent 3 decades ministering to youth involved in gangs in Los Angeles. With compassion, reverence and wisdom, Fr. Boyle weaves the stories of the young people who have touched his life with spiritual reflections on the mercy, acceptance and unconditional love of God. 4.5 stars
July 25, 2020
Well, that was quite the roller coaster. Giggling on one page, weeping on the next. I'm not religious, and certainly not Catholic, but Father Greg's philosophy about the value of compassion and kinship was more than inspiring.
January 18, 2024
What an amazing book about an even more amazing man! Fr. Gregory Boyle, Executive Director of Homeboy Industries and an acknowledged expert on gangs and intervention approaches, he is also an internationally renowned speaker and author with dozens of excellent You Tube videos on gang-related issues. But Fr. Greg would say—and he would be right—that the book isn’t about him. It’s about his homies, the young men and women he is trying to help start over.
This book is not my usual genre and in fact, no one recommended it to me, well unless you count Mary, the Mother of God. I cannot walk out of a library with only one book. So, on a recent trip to pick up a single special request I had to see if there was anything else worthy of attention.
And there was Our Lady staring out from her Guadalupe votive image on the book cover calling to be picked up. An unlikely title with my adversity to tattoos*, but Mary promised me I would not be sorry. I could hardly put it down after the first chapter and stayed up most of one night reading it.
It is one of those impossible-to-review books about life in 1980s to early turn of the century gangster L.A. which really does feel at times like your heart is being pierced. One minute you are celebrating a rescue and the next lamenting the loss of a young life. Sometimes laughing at the homie’s sweet malapropisms and loving naiveté and the next crying at the world’s hatred of them.
As a practicing Catholic, there is consolation in knowing those souls are safe now with God, but the tears are yet to be wiped away, children remain without parents, siblings without siblings and parents without children. The loss of all those young lives hangs heavy. Do not get me wrong, Father G has many who turn their backs on the gangs and turn their lives around; unfortunately, some gangs have long memories and come back to settle old scores.
The reader has to focus on the good Fr. Greg and his team has done and that is incredible. A five ⭐ book all the way! I have already ordered the book about how they started off and hope to read his other books.
MOST highly recommended!
*Oh! And one of the services provided the homies is tattoo-removal, because almost as soon as they start to turn their lives around these young people realize that a body covered with tattoos is not an asset for job placement and advancement.
This book is not my usual genre and in fact, no one recommended it to me, well unless you count Mary, the Mother of God. I cannot walk out of a library with only one book. So, on a recent trip to pick up a single special request I had to see if there was anything else worthy of attention.
And there was Our Lady staring out from her Guadalupe votive image on the book cover calling to be picked up. An unlikely title with my adversity to tattoos*, but Mary promised me I would not be sorry. I could hardly put it down after the first chapter and stayed up most of one night reading it.
It is one of those impossible-to-review books about life in 1980s to early turn of the century gangster L.A. which really does feel at times like your heart is being pierced. One minute you are celebrating a rescue and the next lamenting the loss of a young life. Sometimes laughing at the homie’s sweet malapropisms and loving naiveté and the next crying at the world’s hatred of them.
As a practicing Catholic, there is consolation in knowing those souls are safe now with God, but the tears are yet to be wiped away, children remain without parents, siblings without siblings and parents without children. The loss of all those young lives hangs heavy. Do not get me wrong, Father G has many who turn their backs on the gangs and turn their lives around; unfortunately, some gangs have long memories and come back to settle old scores.
The reader has to focus on the good Fr. Greg and his team has done and that is incredible. A five ⭐ book all the way! I have already ordered the book about how they started off and hope to read his other books.
MOST highly recommended!
*Oh! And one of the services provided the homies is tattoo-removal, because almost as soon as they start to turn their lives around these young people realize that a body covered with tattoos is not an asset for job placement and advancement.
June 28, 2013
the new American dream: what one person can do to make a difference for a lot of people. Making the world a better place. Choosing love over hate. Fr. Boyle is a hero.
April 27, 2011
Quite possibly the most powerful book I have read to date. I spent late night reflection time reading this book over a period of months, just soaking it in. I found myself unable to resist tears quite often, so moved by the compassion and wisdom reflected in the stories "G-dog" relates. The grace communicated so expansively through Father Greg's exposition of the "Narrow Gate" completely changed my perspective on Matthew's gospel. Before, I just hoped I might be able to squeeze in by the skin of my teeth. Now, I want nothing less than to dive through it head-first. This book causes me to want to be a better man. Unlike so many other terrific books that have moved me in my gut, this book has grasped the sinews of my own heart and has moved me to take action. That's the power of the gospel truly spoken. In my own rascally way, I look forward to daily walk into a wider jurisdiction of delight in and kinship with my fellow souls. May we all find our worth.
November 11, 2018
I love this book SO SO much. In the midst of my October horror marathon and an honestly horrific year, somehow it made its way to me. The stories of Homeboy Industries are so touching and inspirational, I teared up almost immediately. It’s been awhile since I’ve felt connected to the teachings of Jesus, and “G” Boyle is a wonderful messenger. I listened to the audiobook, which he narrates himself, and I highly recommend it to readers/listeners of any faith.
Trigger warning: cancer
Trigger warning: cancer
May 13, 2022
~4.2~
"'As I saw this kid,' she tells me, 'I just kept thinking of what my friends might say if they were here with me. They'd say, 'Pray that he dies.'" But she just looked at this tiny kid, struggling to sidestep the fate of her sons, as the doctors work and scream, 'WE'RE LOSING HIM. WE'RE LOSING HIM.'
'And I began to cry as I have never cried before and started to pray the hardest I've ever prayed. 'Please...don't...let him die. I don't want his mom to go through what I have.'
And the kid lived. Sometimes, it only seems that the hurt wins"
This story was gut-punching. Let me just give some context for the quote above. There was a woman whose son was killed by a gang member. She was so depressed. Her second son helped her get out of the hole that she was in and let her know that she still had three kids who loved her and she needed to be there for them. However, only a couple of days later, her second son was killed again by a gang. She was utterly destroyed that she had to be emitted to the hospital because her heart was failing from grief. When she was recovering, a young boy is rushed into the hospital. He was a member of a gang and was covered in blood from mulitple gunshot wounds. The mother soon realized that this kid was a part of the gang that stole her two eldest sons from her. But instead of getting that revenge that she thought she needed, she forgave the kid and prayed that he lived so his mother wouldn't have to go through the same thing that she did with the death of her sons.
Isn't that horrible? That story was where I cried in this book. I think mostly because I am UTTERLY TERRIBLE at forgiveness. Literally, ask anyone who knows me. If you wrong me, wrong anyone who I love, or betray me in any way...you are on my bad side. And will continue to be on my bad side for a very long time if not forever. SOOOO this book was a very good lesson for me in forgiveness. I think that is the biggest thing that I got out of this book.
I thought that the stories in this book were very impactful and sometimes challenging to read because they hit so hard. I could not imagine being Gregory Boyle and having to live and hear all the horrible things that happen to some of these kids. There was so much abuse and death is was so sad. But I loved how Boyle was able to weave the gospel into all of his stories and was able to help these kids see the love and compassion in the world.
It was so fun to meet so many different people and even though their stories may be short, I still feel like I was able to get to know them.
The reason why I docked this book down a few points was that I felt it getting A LITTLE repetitive throughout the whole book. Also, it is sad I know, but since I go to a Christian school, I feel like I read things like this or in this format all the time, which made the book a little less impactful because I felt like I have read things like this before. This is truly very sad because I think that it is a story that most people should read.
I think that this book will stay with me for a very long time and I am very glad that I read it and that I finished my capstone reading!!! EEK!
Have a wonderful friday! : )
"'As I saw this kid,' she tells me, 'I just kept thinking of what my friends might say if they were here with me. They'd say, 'Pray that he dies.'" But she just looked at this tiny kid, struggling to sidestep the fate of her sons, as the doctors work and scream, 'WE'RE LOSING HIM. WE'RE LOSING HIM.'
'And I began to cry as I have never cried before and started to pray the hardest I've ever prayed. 'Please...don't...let him die. I don't want his mom to go through what I have.'
And the kid lived. Sometimes, it only seems that the hurt wins"
This story was gut-punching. Let me just give some context for the quote above. There was a woman whose son was killed by a gang member. She was so depressed. Her second son helped her get out of the hole that she was in and let her know that she still had three kids who loved her and she needed to be there for them. However, only a couple of days later, her second son was killed again by a gang. She was utterly destroyed that she had to be emitted to the hospital because her heart was failing from grief. When she was recovering, a young boy is rushed into the hospital. He was a member of a gang and was covered in blood from mulitple gunshot wounds. The mother soon realized that this kid was a part of the gang that stole her two eldest sons from her. But instead of getting that revenge that she thought she needed, she forgave the kid and prayed that he lived so his mother wouldn't have to go through the same thing that she did with the death of her sons.
Isn't that horrible? That story was where I cried in this book. I think mostly because I am UTTERLY TERRIBLE at forgiveness. Literally, ask anyone who knows me. If you wrong me, wrong anyone who I love, or betray me in any way...you are on my bad side. And will continue to be on my bad side for a very long time if not forever. SOOOO this book was a very good lesson for me in forgiveness. I think that is the biggest thing that I got out of this book.
I thought that the stories in this book were very impactful and sometimes challenging to read because they hit so hard. I could not imagine being Gregory Boyle and having to live and hear all the horrible things that happen to some of these kids. There was so much abuse and death is was so sad. But I loved how Boyle was able to weave the gospel into all of his stories and was able to help these kids see the love and compassion in the world.
It was so fun to meet so many different people and even though their stories may be short, I still feel like I was able to get to know them.
The reason why I docked this book down a few points was that I felt it getting A LITTLE repetitive throughout the whole book. Also, it is sad I know, but since I go to a Christian school, I feel like I read things like this or in this format all the time, which made the book a little less impactful because I felt like I have read things like this before. This is truly very sad because I think that it is a story that most people should read.
I think that this book will stay with me for a very long time and I am very glad that I read it and that I finished my capstone reading!!! EEK!
Have a wonderful friday! : )
February 19, 2011
I read Tattoos on the Heart because the title caught my eye. Regina King, the star of Southland, was interviewed in O Magazine in the March issue, and was asked what was the best book she had read recently. She named this one.So I looked it up on Amazon and loaded it on my kindle. I was on vacation at the time and I read it in less than 2 days. I once read somewhere that compassion is a muscle that gets stronger with use. Fr. G is what we are all called to be, humble, caring, loving, and able to let the face of Jesus shine through him when others look at him. He makes it seem so easly. His stories, sad as they are, are a celebration of humanity and all that is right with the world. To quote a phrase a friend of mine uses, I found the book "eye washing". Think about what he says " In Africa, they believe a person becomes a person through other people". I think that sometimes other people help return you you to yourself.
Imagine if everyone took this approach " Just assume the answer to every question is compassion". What would the world be like today. After reading this not only do I want to send Fr. G a donation towards the good works that he does, but I would also send him a tube of Ben Gay. Doesen't Ben Gay take away all aches and pains. This man's heart must just ache at the end of the day for all that he sees. I would wish for him this could take away some of his pain. God Bless you Fr. G.
Imagine if everyone took this approach " Just assume the answer to every question is compassion". What would the world be like today. After reading this not only do I want to send Fr. G a donation towards the good works that he does, but I would also send him a tube of Ben Gay. Doesen't Ben Gay take away all aches and pains. This man's heart must just ache at the end of the day for all that he sees. I would wish for him this could take away some of his pain. God Bless you Fr. G.
Read
December 16, 2010I met Fr. Greg Boyle several years ago, and later began working as the psychotherapist in residence assisting people from immigrant communities to gang communities. Fr. G's life was previously written by another author, Celeste Fremon, who wrote about Fr. G but after many years, and after telling the many stories about his Homeboys and Homegirls at conferences and at universities, today, December 15, 2010, he spoke on the Dr. Phil show. Fr. Greg is a humble, holy, courageous and wonderfully compassionate man, a Jesuit Catholic priest who has entered into the hearts, lives, and homes of the many homeboys and homegirls who have reached out and accepted his love. I read this book in two days, enthralled by the accuracy of the pictures drawn for the imagination of the reader. His sense of humor, his kindness and his realness in talking the talk with the people reflect his connected to the message of Jesus which he lives day to day in his work with the homies. Love to you, Fr. Greg. You are an outstanding present day saint. We love you.
September 9, 2015
This is not a book I would have chosen to read. My mom and I have a book club, and she chose this one, and I was dreading reading it. What a surprise I encountered, then, to find a book that is not preachy - but instead humorous, eye opening, and thought provoking. I laughed out loud more times reading this book on God and gangsters than I did reading any book that was classified as a comedy. This book made me grateful for the location and circumstances I have been born into, and hopefully less quick to judge others.
September 6, 2023
This is a beautiful book on the subject of compassion. It is funny,sad,wise,full of surprises and is thoroughly enjoyable. Where is that sixth star when you need it.
March 1, 2021
Oh this book touched me in so many ways, an emotional roller coaster... uplifting, humorous, and immensely heartbreaking. One passage really stuck with me, personally- "People call you "the black sheet" long enough (meaning 'sheep', gang member referred to it this way),you tend to believe them. So, we reach in, dismantle the message, and rearrange the language so you can imagine yourself as somebody." So true! I highly recommend this book, it was such an engaging read.
May 14, 2011
The website caption for Fr. Greg Boyle's organization reads: "Homeboy Industries assists at-risk and formerly gang-involved youth to become positive and contributing members of society through job placement, training and education." While apparently accurate, having read about his experiences first hand it seems like a bit of an understatement.
Tattoos on the Heart contains the insights received by Fr. Boyle through his work in the gang capital of LA. Powerful almost seems an understatement as you read through the stories of this priest's life work with those who are commonly called "gang-bangers", for whom he uses the more casual and respect term "homies". This is just one of many ways Fr. Boyle reveals the humanity of people whom the news and popular culture tends to portray as thugs. It possesses much compassionate wisdom and a practical theology that can move anyone, whether they are religious or believe in God or not.
The book overflows with its central message -- that we are made for joy and we are loved. Emphasizing the expansiveness and inclusiveness of God and the importance of standing with the marginalized and the outcast rather than merely standing for them (from a safe distance), this book is not short on inspiration nor education. Each vignette about a particular homie can readily serve as the basis for contemplation, a la lectio divina.
While changes in public funding and the recession have caused a great hardship for Homeboy Industries, there is good news, including the fact that proceeds from this book go directly to that organization. You can even donate through a virtual car wash at the HI website. If God can be found in honestly seeing people for who they are, especially those who others fear and reject, then something of God will be communicated to you through this book.
Tattoos on the Heart contains the insights received by Fr. Boyle through his work in the gang capital of LA. Powerful almost seems an understatement as you read through the stories of this priest's life work with those who are commonly called "gang-bangers", for whom he uses the more casual and respect term "homies". This is just one of many ways Fr. Boyle reveals the humanity of people whom the news and popular culture tends to portray as thugs. It possesses much compassionate wisdom and a practical theology that can move anyone, whether they are religious or believe in God or not.
The book overflows with its central message -- that we are made for joy and we are loved. Emphasizing the expansiveness and inclusiveness of God and the importance of standing with the marginalized and the outcast rather than merely standing for them (from a safe distance), this book is not short on inspiration nor education. Each vignette about a particular homie can readily serve as the basis for contemplation, a la lectio divina.
While changes in public funding and the recession have caused a great hardship for Homeboy Industries, there is good news, including the fact that proceeds from this book go directly to that organization. You can even donate through a virtual car wash at the HI website. If God can be found in honestly seeing people for who they are, especially those who others fear and reject, then something of God will be communicated to you through this book.
October 31, 2013
I had heard about Homeboy Industries & Gregory Boyle on an interview on National Public Radio, or maybe on an episode of 'This American Life'. Nevertheless, I was interested in this book from the start. Unfortunately, the writing is very scattered and it feels like Mr. Boyle is trying far too hard to make all his stories fit together thematically, and it just didn't work. I felt like I was reading a high school term paper, with all the random quotes stuck in to try to back up whatever sort of point Mr. Boyle was trying to prove in each chapter. I gave this book two stars only because I really enjoyed the real life anecdotes of the gang members. That was the meat of the book, and it did not disappoint. After about three chapters, I started skimming the book, reading the real life stories of the homeboys & homegirls, and skipping the quotes and religious stuff. Granted, I'm not a religious person, but I still felt like the rest of the writing, beyond the real life stuff, was hard to read and didn't flow at all. Kudos to Mr. Boyle, though, for all his outreach work with gang members - but maybe he should stick with that, since he's obviously great at it, and leave the writing to someone else.
September 12, 2016
Ok, so this was a book I was reluctant to start, but we were reading it for book group. So two days before I opened it up. I knew the general story about Gregory Boyle's work with the inner city gangs of Los Angeles, and how he started Homeboy Industries . . . but wow. I can't even explain how much this book affected me. Not because of the horrible lives of the gang members, and even when they tried to get out, oftentimes they ended up dead anyway. But because of the many lessons and examples of compassion and true humanity that was shown by Boyle and others who ministered to these kids. And how Boyle never gave up, never judged. He just continued in his ministry to the poor, the needy, the afflicted, the fatherless, and the homeless. So many of the stories are unforgettable. I've never been to law school, but I think TATTOOS should be required reading for every judge, prosecutor, defense attorney, and police officer.
July 12, 2015
Great message. Many profound thoughts. Hard to read. Jumpy. The writing was not great.
February 5, 2022
“The wrong idea has taken root in the world. And the idea is this: there just might be lives out there that matter less than other lives.” It is only by understanding that God has stood with us that we are able to stand with people we see as lowly or unworthy. But once we do see Christ with us, once we watch him walk in our door to sit with us at our sinners’ table or feel him washing our feet, then we have no other response than to run to love others in any way we can. This book reminds us how much God loves us - simple as that - and it does so by giving us pictures of how one man in LA loves his brothers and sisters.
June 1, 2021
I truly loved this book and find myself missing hearing Father Gregory's voice now that I've finished it. Father Gregory portrays working in the East L.A. barrios with gang members and their families with humor and deep compassion. He makes each and every person he talks about fully human, and I was outraged as he was reading about people who called them monsters or somehow otherwise objectified them. I'm sure he would disagree, but he is a truly amazing human being who embodies deep love and compassion for everyone.
July 7, 2010
From My Blog...[return][return]Tattoos on the Heart by Gregory Boyle is a deeply moving, heartwarming series of essays from some of the most memorable times of Father Boyle’s career. Father Boyle has been a Jesuit Priest for 25 years working with many sections of the population that others deem frightening at best, including his work at his beloved Dolores Mission and the creation of Homeboy Industries (which is brilliant and what he refers to as a “tiny drop in a pretty big bucket” yet one we all could learn from), creating jobs for gang members in Los Angeles, working in the gang laden barrios of Los Angeles, at juvenile detention centers, probation camps, as well as at prisons. Tattoos on the Heart is not an autobiography of Father Gregory Boyle’s life and works but rather a collection of essays if you will, showing examples of grace, forgiveness, love, compassion, and faith. Father Boyle shows us how we are all ultimately looking for the same things in life. Through his book the reader comes to know those whom Father Boyle befriends and in turn the reader learns valuable life lessons from some of the most hardened of criminals and gang members. Tattoos on the Heart is exquisitely written, full of life and love, and Father Boyle allows the reader a glimpse into his heart and the hearts of others offering up one of the most memorable non-fiction books I have read in a long time. I would not hesitate to recommend Tattoos on the Heart to anyone, religious or not, the stories speak for themselves.
May 27, 2013
I heard Father Boyle interviewed on NPR a few months ago and was inspired by his work. He is a Jesuit priest who founded Homeboy Industries in LA in 1988. Homeboy Industries helps former gang members redirect their lives and become contributing members of their families and community by offering training, job skills and much more.
Tattoos on the Heart is a collection of anecdotes of Father Boyle's work which are compassionate, inspirational, thought-provoking, funny, tragic and unforgettable. His main message to readers is that these former gang members, outliers of society, need love and to know that they have personal worth and value. He also stresses the importance of kinship, "Kinship-not serving the other, but being one with the other. Jesus was not 'a man for others'; he was one with them".
Although there is a strong religious tone to the book the messages are universal and readers of all religions (and even non-believers like myself) can relate.
Tattoos on the Heart is a collection of anecdotes of Father Boyle's work which are compassionate, inspirational, thought-provoking, funny, tragic and unforgettable. His main message to readers is that these former gang members, outliers of society, need love and to know that they have personal worth and value. He also stresses the importance of kinship, "Kinship-not serving the other, but being one with the other. Jesus was not 'a man for others'; he was one with them".
Although there is a strong religious tone to the book the messages are universal and readers of all religions (and even non-believers like myself) can relate.
August 27, 2013
Here's my summary: incongruous (yet moving) stories followed by nebulous bullshit analysis always connecting said stories to god in some way or another. The only reason why I rated it as high as I did was because of the beautiful experiences the author shares. But being a nonbeliever forced to read this for a religion class at my Catholic High School, I did not fully appreciate the spiritual analysis Boyle provided. All in all, if you're Catholic or religious in any way, you have a much higher probability of enjoying this book. Don't take this as me calling this a bad book, I just recognize it's not for me.
July 7, 2023
Two years ago I promised a friend I would read this book. I finally got around to it, and it did not disappoint one bit.
It consists mostly of short stories and reflections from Fr. Greg’s experiences with young men and women caught in gang affiliation in a certain section of LA.
This book had it all. I laughed out loud a couple times, was inspired, humbled, frustrated, consoled, saddened, given hope and much more throughout this book.
And if you’re into tradition and liturgy, don’t worry. This book is full of it.
“Love for the poor and the divine liturgy go hand in hand; love for the poor is liturgy” - Benedict XVI
It consists mostly of short stories and reflections from Fr. Greg’s experiences with young men and women caught in gang affiliation in a certain section of LA.
This book had it all. I laughed out loud a couple times, was inspired, humbled, frustrated, consoled, saddened, given hope and much more throughout this book.
And if you’re into tradition and liturgy, don’t worry. This book is full of it.
“Love for the poor and the divine liturgy go hand in hand; love for the poor is liturgy” - Benedict XVI
Displaying 1 - 30 of 3,765 reviews