Hollywood actor Chris Pratt has shared an emotional reflection on faith, fatherhood, and survival, revealing that his eldest son Jack’s fragile start in life changed his relationship with God forever.
In a deeply personal essay written for Maria Shriver’s Sunday Paper, the 46-year-old actor traced his faith journey back to childhood, saying he was baptised in a Catholic church and grew up attending Catholic, Lutheran, and Evangelical congregations.
While his church background shifted over the years, Pratt said one thing stayed constant — what he described as “the healing power of grace.”
He admitted that his spiritual life wasn’t always steady, explaining that he went through repeated cycles of rebellion, guilt, forgiveness, and renewal, Daily Mail reported.
That all changed in 2012 when his son Jack, whom he shares with ex-wife, actress Anna Faris, was born nine weeks prematurely and placed in intensive care.
Pratt revealed that during that terrifying period, he returned to prayer in a way he never had before.
“When my son Jack was fighting for his life, I found myself back on my knees, pleading to God for a miracle,” he wrote.
He added that he made a promise to God at the time — that if his son survived, he would devote his life to sharing God’s message.
Jack spent a month in intensive care but survived. Today, he is a healthy 13-year-old.
Pratt said not a day passes without gratitude, while also acknowledging parents whose prayers do not get the outcome he did.
“I know there are countless parents who pray those same prayers and don’t receive the answer I did. My heart is with them always,” he wrote.
The actor also reflected on how a recent trip to Rome, where he filmed a documentary on St. Peter, deepened his faith. He described standing beneath the basilica and encountering what is believed to be the remains of Jesus’ disciple as a moment that made faith feel tangible.
Using light and darkness as metaphors, Pratt explained that faith does not remove struggles but helps put them in perspective.
“Darkness is not a presence. Darkness is simply the absence of light,” he wrote, adding that faith helps place shadows “behind us.”
Pratt admitted that speaking openly about religion attracts criticism but said he feels compelled to share how faith has shaped his life.
This is not the first time the actor has spoken about Jack’s birth redefining his priorities. In a 2014 interview, he said becoming a father brought him closer to his family and restored his faith.
Anna Faris has also previously spoken about the fear surrounding Jack’s premature birth, describing it as an incredibly frightening time for them both.
Despite their 2018 divorce, Pratt and Faris continue to co-parent amicably. Pratt has since remarried author Katherine Schwarzenegger, with whom he shares three children, while Faris married cinematographer Michael Barrett in 2021.
#Actor #Chris #Pratt #opens #sons #neardeath #experience #renewed #faith #God
Leave a Reply