Robaird O’Cearbhaill
Hong Kong Correspondent
“Being a Catholic is the most important aspect of my life.” This is what international movie star Mark Wahlberg told the UK’s Catholic Herald in an interview.
However, during his teen years he was involved with young criminals, ending up in prison.
How did that happen and how did Wahlberg turn to faith?
A lot of how and why was explained in a Time magazine question and answer session from readers.
“I made a lot of mistakes because I had a lot of free time. My parents both worked numerous jobs just to put food on the table.”
Wahlberg added, “anything that’s good in my life is because of my faith. A lot of people get in trouble, go to jail and find God, and the minute they don’t need God anymore, they’re gone. But I spend a good portion of my day thanking God for all the blessings that have been bestowed on me. If it all ended today, I’d be happy. I’ve had such an amazing journey.”
Wahlberg said he had to focus on his religion to get himself straight to a good path. “Once I focused on my faith, wonderful things started happening for me.” He was not talking about his entertainment career.
“And I don’t mean professionally – that’s not what it’s about.” Praying in Church for success “is not what I come here for.”
He said that the “wonderful things started happening to me” were not about career but in his personal, spiritual and family life, he prays to be a better man and uses remorse to pay back what he did.
“For me to sit down (to pray) and ask for material things is ridiculous. It’s a much bigger picture than that. I want to serve God and to be a good human being and to make up for the mistakes I made and the pain I put people through. That’s what I’m praying for, and I recommend it to anybody.”
Wahlberg stated, too, that: “Being a good actor or a good producer: that’s not going to help me sleep at night or get me into heaven.” He said family duty and charity to others is his main interest and motivation.
“The most important thing…is to be a good father, a good husband, and a good human being – a man who helps his fellow man and raises his kids to be good human beings too. Every single aspect of my family life is joy.”
Wahlberg added that: “So I want to make sure I’m involved in every aspect of my kids’ lives. I really try to instill values — faith being the most important.”
“The first thing I do when I start my day is I get down on my hands and knees and give thanks to God,” Wahlberg said. “If I can start my day out by saying my prayers and getting myself focused, then I know I’m doing the right thing. That 10 minutes helps me in every way.”
(Photo: Mark Wahlberg arrives for world premiere of Transfomers, The Last Night, at a cinema in central London, Britain, June 18, 2017. REUTERS/Hannah McKay)
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