It’s no secret that actor Mark Wahlberg ended up dramatically changing his life after experiencing some troubles in his youth, with the entertainer recently proclaiming that it was his faith that helped him turn it all around.
“I think the fact that I’ve been able to turn my life around and really make my mom proud and become a better person through focusing on my faith, it always gives me great sense of pride to come home,” Wahlberg told People Magazine last month, while discussing his new movie about the Boston bombing titled, “Patriots Day.”
The Boston native, who is known now for starring in other well-known feature films like “Lone Survivor” and “The Fighter,” faced legal challenges in 1988, when the then-16 year old was charged for an assault and spent 45 days in prison following the robbery at a convenience store, as the outlet noted.
It was after his time behind bars that Wahlberg took a positive turn in his life, telling People that, though he’s made a lot of mistakes, he’s “done a lot” to turn his life around — and he said he’d like to see others follow suit.
“I encourage and challenge people like myself to do the same, but more importantly, I want to encourage young people growing up in that situation first and foremost to avoid the mistakes that I made,” he said. “There isn’t anything you can’t accomplish by hard work.”
This is hardly the first time Whalberg has openly discussed his faith. In fact, the actor recorded a video thanking priests for all they do — one that was played at the. National Conference of Diocesan Vocation Directors in Boston this past October.
“I want you to know my support for your work to foster vocations to the priesthood, because I want my children and future generations to have good priests in their lives, just like I had,” Wahlberg said in the brief clip. “My Catholic faith is the anchor that supports everything I do in life.”
Just one year prior, Wahlberg also took the stage with Pope Francis at Philadelphia’s World Meeting of Families, where the actor once again openly discussed faith. But his candidness about his Catholic beliefs extends further back.
It was in 2012 that the actor told Piers Morgan he either goes to Mass or church every day, stopping in for 15-20 minutes to say some prayers and get his day going. Wahlberg also further addressed how he changed his life after spending 45 days behind bars as a youth.
“I wanted to prove to people through my actions — not my words — that I was going to change and that I was going to make a positive impact on the community that I come from,” Wahlberg said of his decision to change. “I could not forget about where I came from and find myself in this position without helping and giving back.”
(H/T: People)
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