Growing up, I never had a desire to get a tattoo. It just wasn’t something that interested me.
Yet one day last year I came across the phrase Memento Mori, and immediately I knew that I wanted to get it on my arm. I decided to put it off and give it some more thought.
I know people have varied and passionate opinions about tattoos. Some think to mark your body is disgraceful and some think its incredible. I respect the different opinions, and I believe there is some merit to both sides. The decision to get a tattoo is something that I did not take lightly, and after a year of thinking, praying, and asking about it I decided to take the plunge!
Memento Mori is a Latin phrase that means “Remember you will die.”
Personally, I think the phrase itself sounds cool, and the meaning is pretty self explanatory. However, the history and deeper meaning of the phrase is what led me to consider putting it on myself permanently.
Tradition says that it gets its roots from a Roman general. When he would return from incredible victory on the battlefield, people constantly celebrated him and lauded him with praise. He grew tired of this and wanted to stay humble. One day he decided to have a slave ride with him in his chariot during the post-battle celebrations. The sole job of the slave was to say the following to him every time someone yelled out praise:
“Respice post te! Hominem te esse memento! Memento mor!”
This translates roughly to “Look behind you! Remember that you are a man! Remember that you will die!"
In Medieval times, Christians adopted the phrase as a way to keep their focus on life after death. Memento Mori themes are present in art, literature, and architecture. Artists would incorporate skulls, time pieces, and other ‘mementos’ into their work to encourage thought and conversation about the afterlife. The idea was to shatter the illusion that we sometimes maintain of life as a constant. The people of the day wanted reminders of the brevity of life, and how fleeting life’s pleasures are compared to the everlasting gifts of God.
For me, I would often go days, weeks, or even months without thinking about my own mortality. We all make plans for next month or next year as if it is a foregone conclusion. I didn’t want to continue making that mistake, so I decided to do something about it. My tattoo is in a place that isn’t very noticeable, but I will see it every single day. It is facing me, and it is in my handwriting because it is a personal reminder. Yet it’s also something I think we all could use.
Our culture does not have a healthy respect for death. In fact, there is a terrible fear of it. Many people see death as the end of existence, and they do everything they can do avoid thinking about it. Even many Christians see death as a terrible thing, almost as if dying and reuniting with Christ is a consolation prize for a premature ending rather than a glorious reunion with our maker.
Hebrews 2:14-15 tells us a different story. Death is not something to obsess over. Yet it also isn’t something to be afraid of. If we are afraid of death, then we are a slave to it.
14 Since therefore the children share in flesh and blood, He himself likewise partook of the same things, that through death He might destroy the one who has the power of death, that is, the devil, 15 and deliver all those who through fear of death were subject to lifelong slavery.
You may not get it tattooed on your arm, but I challenge you to figure out a way to remind yourself that you will die. Think about what this life is really about, and what God is calling you to accomplish with it.
Only when we are free from the fear of death will we ever truly live.
