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  • Essay / A review of the book Tattoos on The Heart by Gregory Boyle

    I chose to read the book Tattoos On the Heart. It is a first-person story that follows a priest, Gregory Boyle, through his many experiences with Los Angeles gangs in his community. The story takes place in the 80s and 90s, a time constantly plagued by violence, especially in a big city like LA. Boyle lived in the poorest parish in the city, but he strove to make a difference. He welcomed all gang members into his church, because that's what Jesus would have done, and that was his strongest argument to the people in his parish. As the leader of his church, he was responsible for all funerals. They were children or elderly people, most of them because of the violence. He even knew several of the people he buried personally. As time passed, the funeral began to take its toll on Boyle, which made him want to help even more. Whether it was housing his church members or providing them with jobs, Boyle truly wanted the best for these people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on “Why Violent Video Games Should Not Be Banned”? Get an original essay The book begins with Boyle giving some examples from his life that inspired him to help others. Most of the students at his school were criminals and he refused to report them. They respected each other and trusted each other. Boyle truly believed he could make a difference in the lives of these children and they did. He helps countless young people. For example Caesar, a massive man who has just been released from prison. Boyle helps Cesar get back on his feet, and Cesar tells the priest that he has always been a father figure in his life. As the story progresses and we hear about the stories of his years as a priest, Boyle remembers the moment he became a priest. ordered. He was in Bolivia preaching to the poor, some of whom had never met a priest before. During this time, his life was greatly affected by it, and he often reflects on it when talking about his nonprofit and states that it would not have been as helpful as it was without the time that he spent there. Boyle then begins to talk about how people hate themselves. He explains that sinners sin because they feel excluded and want to feel loved like everyone else. He gives many examples. It also speaks of hatred towards others. A kid he knew, named Benito, was shot and killed by a rival gang. He later died in hospital. Boyle shares his struggle to overcome the hatred he had toward the two men who shot the child he was caring for. He explains that as a Christian, it is our responsibility to love everyone unconditionally. Boyle also recounts how he sheltered undocumented immigrants for years. As controversial as it was, he wasn't ashamed of it. It declares that Jesus lived his life loving the excluded and that we should do the same. Boyle repeatedly mentions kinship. He believes that through kinship, anyone can change their life and he has hundreds of stories to prove it. He helped everyone, regardless of the situation they were in or their backgrounds. He had seen the worst of the worst and he always welcomed them into his arms. Over the course of his life, Boyle helped hundreds of gang members. His nonprofit, Homeboy Industries, was created to help gang members in any way possible. Through this, he was able to change countless lives. This was even acknowledged by the White House at one point. Boyle has.