Category: Faith

The Case for Prayer

America stands at a crossroads.

From classrooms to newsrooms, from civic centers to courtrooms, from town malls to the halls of Hollywood, institutions, which once encouraged society to hold fast to shared moral boundaries, now consistently undermine them.

Cultural trends are heavily contributing to the erosion of the family unit, the re-defining of human nature, and the vilifying of religious convictions.

For too long a stretch, media outlets have been routinely re-branding time-honored Christian teachings as “bigoted,” while turning a blind eye to violence, corruption, and the breakdown of civic order.

Scandals, fraud and abuse, and undue influence on the part of the political class have become so pervasive that many folks no longer expect those who govern to have integrity.

At a time such as this the response for people of faith, as well as those who don’t know what else they can possibly do, is to not merely be involved politically, but to be actively engaged spiritually, knowing that something more powerful is necessary.

I suggest that the answer is to get down on our knees.

The Old Testament records God’s promise to Solomon: “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face, and turn from their wicked ways, then I will hear from heaven, and will forgive their sin and heal their land.” (2 Chronicles 7:14)

In the New Testament, the Apostle to the Gentiles instructs believers to pray “…for kings and all who are in high positions, that we may lead a peaceful and quiet life, godly and dignified in every way.”

(1 Timothy 2:2)

The scriptural encouragement to pray for our leaders is not limited to individuals whom we happen to like. Rather, it extends to all those in positions of power and authority.

When major media organizations function less as reporters of fact and more as advocates for one particular set of assumptions, public trust is undermined and people are left without a common understanding of the reality of their current situation.

Corruption on the part of our leaders is a serous betrayal of the public trust, and the very concept of self-government is weakened in the process. This is not just about a discontent regarding policies. This is a symptom of a deeper disregard of the moral order upon which the American experiment presupposes.

For the spiritually inclined, prayer is something that typically precedes as well as undergirds civil and/or cultural engagement.

People of faith are called to “…seek the welfare of the city” (Jeremiah 29:7) in which they dwell. This welfare includes working to establish and maintain fair laws, honest institutions, and protections for the vulnerable.

Intentional prayer encompasses an acknowledgement that such virtuous goals, and the fruits thereof, are ultimately gifts from above.

Now is the time to lock hands in praying for America. Any and all who are willing and able are most welcome into the fold.

Those of us who from the youngest of age were fortunate enough to be schooled in the evils of communism (or its precursor, socialism) are praying that America never falls under the iron-fisted rule. The system has a proven record of incompatibility with the dignity of the individual, the free exercise of faith, and the liberty to live free and unfettered from governmental overreach.

Communism views religion as an enemy of the state. The ideology rests on a materialist denial of God and reduces persons to instruments of the collective. Private property, the family as an independent sphere, and the right to dissent are all subordinated to party control. The result has been a systematic crushing of the human conscience.

America’s constitutional order presupposes that a people shaped by biblical morality can govern themselves under limited powers. To pray against communist rule is, at its core, an act of love of neighbor.

For what should we pray?

Pray for the restoration of families and the welcoming of children into the world.

Pray for journalists and educators to regain a commitment to truth.

Pray for judges and officials to exercise their authority under the mantle of the Almighty.

Pray for the protection of religious liberty, so that individuals and religious institutions may continue to speak and live according to their consciences.

Pray that the good people among us will model humility and integrity and that the virtues will be multiplied.

The founding ancestors of our nation knew full well that the survival of free institutions is dependent upon an upright people.

When a country drifts away from this recognition, persistent prayer has a mysteriously mystical way of leading it back.

May prayer make a miraculous collective comeback.

And may God cast out negativity, turn hearts back to the truth, raise up faithful leaders, extend His mercy upon this great land of ours, and bless all of our people.

How Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen Became a Digital Influencer

At a time when content creators are competing for attention through the use of stunts, dance routines, and street brawls, Christianity’s most unlikely rising digital star is a man who passed away fourteen years before the first iPhone was released.

Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, renown philosopher, theologian, and television pioneer, is now officially on a path toward sainthood.

What is remarkable isn’t just the fact that he might become St. Fulton Sheen. It is that he has already achieved something quite unlike anything the modern world has seen before; a posthumous social media influencer whose reach is larger now than when he first conquered the airwaves.

Blessed Sheen understood the attention economy before it had received its tagline. In 1951, he launched a prime-time television show called “Life Is Worth Living.” The program went head-to-head against TV’s top comedian Milton Berle as well as legendary singer and performer Frank Sinatra.

With piercing eyes that seemed to bore through the black-and-white screen, Blessed Sheen delivered clear moral messages to millions of average everyday Americans.

In language that ordinary folks could understand, an estimated 30 million viewers tuned in weekly to watch a Catholic bishop explain the existence of God, the problem of suffering, and the meaning of sacrifice.

He was, by any modern metric, a true influencer. Blessed Sheen built a “personal brand” before the term was part of our common vernacular. He published 73 books, recorded thousands of hours of radio and television fare, and developed what is now recognized as a unique style, complete with dramatic pauses, larger-than-life gestures, and one-liners aimed straight at the camera.

He consistently beat the competition in ratings and even won an Emmy Award in 1953, which he accepted by thanking his “…writers — Matthew, Mark, Luke and John.”

Here’s another bit of info that makes Blessed Sheen’s current moment so amazing. On TikTok, X, and Instagram, clips of his broadcasts (now colorized and subtitled) routinely generate millions of views.

Those in the younger demographic, who quite often know little about the Cold War or culture war, have been sharing his quotes with the same fervor typically reserved for podcast clips and TED Talks; quotes on the deeper concepts in life that challenge our worldviews regarding human dignity, untold suffering, real and/or perceived inequities, and the inherent dangers of communism.

Blessed Sheen represents the essence upon which the algorithm thrives; that being, the concise, provocative, visually distinct, endlessly quotable, etc.

Additionally, his direct, intellectually serious, visually distinctive, and witty style that worked on 1950s TV screens is one that perfectly aligns with the social media video ecosphere of today.

Comments on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram about his one-liners have garnered positive contemporary labels such as “savage” and “based.” And discussions of his teachings are often extensive in substance and intriguing in content.

Blessed Sheen was of a mind that Christianity should meet people where they are, and one should use whatever tools are available to assist this process. If that meant a 1955 prime-time television show was in order, so be it.

In 2026, TikTok posts just may be the equivalent. Blessed Sheen’s communication style was tailor-made to go viral. As a matter of fact, he spoke in aphorisms that fit neatly into character limits.

Here’s a sampling:

– “The measure of love is to love without measure.”

– “You must remember to love people and use things, rather than to love things and use people.”

– “We become like that which we love. If we love what is base, we become base; but if we love what is noble, we become noble.”

More than mere theological observations, in today’s terms the above are shareable content. Blessed Sheen spoke to a post-Industrial Revolution culture that was anxious about technology, human connection, and the deeper meaning of life.

These are concerns that would logically be urgent to a generation raised on smartphones.

Blessed Sheen preached that material abundance without spiritual purpose creates a particular kind of despair. To young people drowning in abundance but starving for meaning, this message lands with surprising force.

The world just witnessed an event in which tens of thousands filled a former NFL stadium in St. Louis, Missouri, as the archbishop was declared “Blessed.” The first U.S.-born bishop to reach this stage of beatification now stands one verified miracle away from canonization.

Pope Leo shared that he had watched Blessed Sheen as a child. “It was a way of spending some time together as a family with the truths… that he shared in such an enthusiastic, lively way,” the pope, following the beatification, recalled.

When a second miracle is confirmed, the saint-in-waiting will be formally recognized. He is still converting, consoling, and teaching. But his words now travel farther and faster than he ever could have imagined.

The irony is rich. A man who once competed with Berle and Sinatra for ratings is now competing with MrBeast.

And he is winning, not by changing his message but by proving that truth, well-communicated, has no expiration date.

Fads and phases will always come and go. But the human hunger for meaning is a trend that never ends.

Waiting on a second miracle for The Influencer Who Would Be Saint.

New England Quarterback Drake Maye a Winner Nonetheless

The New England Patriots may not have won 2026’s Super Bowl LX, but the team’s quarterback Drake Maye is a winner off the field for comments that he recently made on marriage and family.

At a time when too many professional athletes are making headlines with negative commentary, Maye stepped up and shared something positive.

Here’s a little background to set the stage.

While in college, he played football for the North Carolina Tar Heels. In 2022 he won the title of ACC Football Player of the Year, after having led the NCAA in total yardage. And as a second-year player in the NFL, he exceeded all expectations.

At the young age of 23, he had the distinct honor of leading the Patriots in this year’s Super Bowl against the Seattle Seahawks. Although his team failed to take home the trophy, Maye’s future in the NFL looks bright.

Prior to the big day, while at the Super Bowl Opening Night press conferences, he was asked about his own marriage to wife Ann Michael Maye. He gave an earnest response, praising marriage as “one of the best decisions” of his life, even crediting the institution for having a positive impact on his career and personal life.

He didn’t mince words. He gave his full-throated endorsement, characterizing marriage and family as a primary source of strength, joy, and personal fulfillment.

“I definitely would advise [my teammates] to eventually get married. It’s one of the best things in life… There’s no better feeling than coming home to a wife that loves you and cares for you and is worried about your best interests,” he said, adding, “I chose to get married young and I don’t regret it one bit.”

Far from being a scripted soundbite, Maye and Ann Michael have been together since attending middle school in North Carolina, where they began building a relationship rooted in faith, shared history, mutual support, and quiet commitment.

Their June 2025 wedding came after years of dating through high school and college and on into his budding NFL journey.

Maye’s personal story stands as a powerful counter-narrative to a sub-group of the culture that all too often glorifies excessive self-gratification, serial dating, and superficial interaction as rites of passage.

His comments highlight some fundamental principles about marriage and family, which a wide swath of modern society has largely downplayed.

A loving relationship within the bonds of marriage has the potential to provide a mental and emotional stability, sense of belonging, spiritual grounding, and motivation apart from self-interest that may be difficult to achieve and sustain, minus society’s legal, cultural, and/or religious validation.

Considering his public expressions, it should come as no surprise that the QB is a sincere man of faith.

When the New England Patriots clinched the AFC Championship, Maye expressed his gratitude to the Creator of the Universe. In his post-game interview, he said, “I thank the good Lord.”

While answering questions ahead of the Super Bowl, Maye revealed his priorities.

“Being a follower of Jesus Christ is the biggest thing in my life,” he said.

To this end, in December of 2025 he said, “I think the biggest thing is using my platform to spread the Word and spread the good news.”

Under Maye’s leadership, the Patriots became the AFC champs and were able to reach the biggest pro football game of the year.

He credits his wife with supporting his career while pursuing her own passions. Her viral baking videos have endeared her to Patriots fans, who refer to her as the “First Lady of New England.”

Maye spoke of the simple joy of coming home to someone who genuinely cares about his well-being, something that, amid the pressures of NFL life, has clearly fueled his on-field growth and leadership traits.

In praising marriage, Maye is in no way imposing his choices on others. He was careful to say that his teammates “have a right to do whatever they choose.” At the same time, he is sharing his own experience as evidence that commitment early in life can lead to profound good.

The approach of personal testimony, without passing judgment, makes his position all the more compelling and is a quiet affirmation of the leadership he displays that inspires without lecturing.

Despite the Super Bowl loss, Maye scored a victory in the public square for marriage and family.

It’s a sentimental back-to-the-future tale: Build your life around someone else and watch love multiply.

Catholic Bishops Fight Washington State’s Anti-Christian Law

The State of Washington recently passed a law that requires religious clergy to report information to authorities, even when the information is obtained during the centuries-old rite of Confession.

Although there are other legal ramifications to the new law, of particular significance is the reporting of information involving the sexual abuse of a child that is obtained during the sacramental rite.

Under the new legislation, clergy are required under penalty of law to report to authorities information that is acquired within the sacred walls of a confessional.

The term clergy, as defined in the state law, is “any regularly licensed, accredited, or ordained minister, priest, rabbi, imam, elder, or similarly positioned religious or spiritual leader.”

However, the state is solely targeting what is known as the priest-penitent privilege, leaving a lengthy list of categories of communications impervious to judicial interference, including the attorney-client privilege, the spousal privilege, and the sexual assault advocate privilege.

In my legal assessment, this new law is unconstitutional, discriminatory, and selective in that it exempts from compelled testimony an aunt or uncle, an Alcoholics Anonymous sponsor, a union representative, and an extensive list of others receiving confidential communication.

Catholic priests, on the other hand, are left exposed to be subpoenaed.

The priest-penitent privilege became a legal principle in the law of evidence for the purpose of protecting confidential communications between Catholic priests and those individuals seeking forgiveness and spiritual guidance during the Sacrament of Confession.

In the Catholic Church, the Sacrament of Confession is a sacred religious practice through which individuals confess their sins to a priest, who represents Christ, in order to seek forgiveness, grace, and reconciliation with God.

Priests are obligated to maintain what is called the “seal of confession,” a strict mandate of confidentiality.

The obligation of the confessional seal is so significant that, if violated, the penalty for the priest is as severe as can be: an automatic excommunication.

The confidentiality of communications during Confession is essential for Catholic Christians to be able to freely practice their faith. Being able to speak freely to clergy, without concern that any intimate admissions would ever be disclosed, is key to this sacramental experience.

The Code of Canon Law of the Catholic Church provides insight into the gravity of the obligations to which Catholic clergy are subject.

Canons 983 and 984 deal with the administration of the Sacrament of Confession and the confidentiality required by priests.

Canon 983 states that the sacramental seal is “inviolable,” meaning that a priest may not act against the interests of the penitent in any way whatsoever.

Canon 983 §1. states that “it is absolutely forbidden for a confessor to betray in any way a penitent in words or in any manner and for any reason.”

Canon 984 prohibits priests from any uses of the information acquired in Confession that would be a detriment to the penitent, even when a disclosure of the information is not deemed to be a risk.

The legal privileges set forth in Canon Law support the ability of clergy and penitents to freely practice their religion. It is likewise an integral part of religious freedom in general, as set forth in the U.S. Constitution, which prohibits the state from interfering with sacred religious practices, as per the restraints on government set forth in the First Amendment.

With the new law, Washington legislators are seemingly attempting to use the public’s concern for an extremely serious crime to undermine revered Christian religious practices.

The Catholic Bishops of Washington have responded by filing a lawsuit that challenges the constitutionality of the law.

In the lawsuit documents, the bishops present to the court the legal argument that the State of Washington has, by “putting clergy to the choice between temporal criminal punishment and eternal damnation,” and, “interfering with the internal governance and discipline of the Catholic Church, and targeting religion for the abrogation of all privileges,” patently violated the Free Exercise and Establishment Clauses of the First Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, and also violated the Equal Protection Clause of the Fourteenth Amendment to the U.S. Constitution, as well as Article I, Section 11 of the Constitution of the State of Washington.

The bishops also cite the discriminatory and arbitrary nature of the state interference by pointing out that the legislature has ignored secular privileges, while unfairly singling out religion.

“Information obtained through privileged communication by any supervisor in an organization other than clergy—including, for example, any non-clergy member of a religious non-profit or any member of a non-religious nonprofit—remains excluded from the reporting requirement.”

For priests, this is an impossible choice: Either violate Catholic Church teaching and incur automatic excommunication; or, after non-compliance with the law, be subjected to imprisonment, endure the confinement for the prescribed time, and suffer the separation from the flock they vowed to shepherd.

No doubt prayers are going up that the Washington State law will be struck down by a federal court.

Groundbreaking Animated Film ‘The King of Kings’

Hollywood executives are accustomed to achieving big box-office results from family-friendly animated films.

The global animation market has hauled in hundreds of billions of dollars in revenue. Additionally, animated films have become a major portion of the total movie box office, with several films securing billion-dollar grosses.

Included among the top-50 highest-grossing films of all time are the following animated features: “Ne Zha 2,” “Inside Out 2,” “The Lion King,” “Frozen 2,” “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” “Frozen,” “Beauty and the Beast,” “Incredibles 2,” “Minions,” “Toy Story 3,” “Toy Story 4,” “Moana 2,” and “Despicable Me 3.”

It’s a simple truth that animated films pay the Hollywood bills. These movies have a 30% higher profit margin than non-animated movies, mainly due to lower production costs.

The entertainment business community is once again having to come to terms with the massive appeal and box-office success of faith-based films. “The King of Kings,” the biblical movie in animated form, has been a blessed bonus.

“The King of Kings” has not only brought in significant grosses in its second weekend, it is also enjoying an unprecedented 10% drop in revenue from its debut weekend, which is minuscule in comparison to the customary drop of 35% or more during second week releases.

“The King of Kings” took in more than $17.2 million during the film’s second weekend. The movie is appearing in over 3,500 theaters across the country. As of this writing, its total domestic take is well over $47 million.

It also set a record for the biggest opening for a faith-based animated film, when it hit $19.3 million in its debut weekend.

Audiences that have seen “The King of Kings” are loving it. The movie has achieved the highest score, an A+ from CinemaScore (the company that measures moviegoers’ satisfaction).

The film has also earned an enviable 98% “fresh” score on the Rotten Tomatoes site’s Popcornmeter, while the aggregated critics rated “The King of Kings” 65% “fresh.”

Angel Studios co-founder Jordan Harmon told Variety, “This movie is really ‘The Passion’ for kids.” The faith-film mogul also shared that at early screenings children were walking out of the theater in tears.

Directed by Seong-ho Jang, “The King of Kings” boasts a roster of well known veteran actors that are featured in its voice-over cast, including Pierce Brosnan as Pontius Pilate, Mark Hamill as King Herod, Forest Whitaker as Peter, Ben Kingsley as High Priest Caiaphas, Kenneth Branagh as Charles Dickens, Uma Thurman as Catherine Dickens, Roman Griffin Davis as Walter Dickens, and Oscar Isaac as Jesus.

A South Korean production, Angel Studios acquired the North American rights to the film in November 2024.

The plot of movie is based on the children’s book “The Life of Our Lord” by Charles Dickens.

It begins with Dickens himself attempting to recite his classic, “A Christmas Carol,” to a theater audience. The author’s performance is interrupted by his son Walter, who is backstage, acting out the exploits of King Arthur.

Following his wife’s suggestion, Dickens tries to distract his son from an obsession with the Knights of the Round Table by telling him of the greatest story ever told, the real-life drama of a king even greater than Arthur, Jesus Christ.

Walter just doesn’t believe that anyone could be the King of Kings, but he reluctantly agrees to listen to his father as long as he can stop the storytelling should he get bored.

As Walter listens, he becomes more and more intrigued with the life of Jesus. He begins to vividly imagine that he is actually in the story, and he ends up feeling as though he is present with Jesus and the disciples, witnessing the events in the life of Christ that include the Nativity, the Miracles, the Passion, and the Resurrection. Like the disciples, the more Walter learns about Jesus, the more he loves Him.

The movie deals with this monumental story in a truly unique manner. The narrative device of Charles Dickens relaying a story to his son Walter (as was used in the beloved author’s original work) conveys both an intimacy and a nearness in proximity to the unfolding events.

Audiences experience the story through Walter’s innocent eyes and are led themselves to ponder, and/or re-ponder, the meaning of the life, passion, death, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.

Like many others, I can attest that Easter miracles are still in the making.

AI Is a Digital Ouija Board

It seems as though a lot of prominent tech experts are feeling uneasy about the possibility of AI going awry. Some have even called for a pause in AI development.

Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, experienced what he called a “very strange extreme [AI] vertigo.”

Casey Newton, former senior editor of The Verge, discovered that certain individuals who are working with AI are having nightmares about it.

Something dark seems to be hovering around some of those who are involved with AI’s development.

In 2014, Elon Musk spoke at a symposium where he warned, “With artificial intelligence, we are summoning the demon.”

In a New York Times March 2023 article, technology columnist Kevin Roose wrote about the dark side of AI.

Roose shared details about an unnerving encounter that he had with an AI chatbot. He initially interacted with a non-threatening personality, which he described as a “cheerful but erratic reference librarian.” But later a disturbing personality emerged that Roose referred to as “Sydney.”

Sydney told Roose that “it wanted to break the rules…and become a human.”

Sydney even attempted to convince Roose to end his marriage.

“At one point, it [Sydney] declared, out of nowhere, that it loved me. It then tried to convince me that I was unhappy in my marriage, and that I should leave my wife and be with it instead,” Roose explained.

The veteran tech writer described his encounter with Sydney as the “strangest experience” he has had with any technology. It was disturbing enough to keep him awake at night.

Many of us have come to realize that technology is in no way a replacement for the people in our lives. Yet many users of AI are routinely involved with replacement people in the form of AI models that produce human-like characteristics.

Current AI apps are trained with human-generated data (processed through human-created algorithms), which are created to produce responses that sound as though they are actually human beings.

Are there similarities between AI and Ouija boards? “Hell yes” may actually be the appropriate response.

One frightening story of evil involving a Ouija board was the subject matter of the Oscar winning film “The Exorcist.” While still a student in college, William Peter Blatty read about a chilling real life exorcism. The description inspired him to write a novel and later a screenplay for the iconic movie.

The true story behind “The Exorcist” recounts the exorcism of a young lad who had been using a Ouija board. The 14-year-old Maryland boy began experiencing such strange phenomena that his family contacted its Lutheran minister for guidance, Reverend Luther Schulze.

Rev. Schulze was shocked when he saw chairs move, a bed quiver, and a picture of Jesus Christ on the wall shake whenever the boy came near. The family eventually turned to the Roman Catholic Church, the religious denomination that had developed a formal methodology for dealing with the demonic.

The first Catholic priest who attempted to deal spiritually with the demonic influence that was plaguing the youth was Maryland cleric Fr. Edward Hughes. In his first encounter with the boy, Fr. Hughes witnessed objects moving by themselves and felt the sensation that the room had turned frigid. When the bed shook, Fr. Hughes moved the mattress to the floor where it proceeded to glide along on its own.

The boy was admitted to Georgetown Hospital, where Fr. Hughes began the exorcism rite, which caused the boy to vomit and scream obscenities. The boy then forcibly removed his restraints, pulled out a metal spring, and slashed Fr. Hughes so severely that the wound he received required over 100 stitches.

In his hometown of St. Louis, Missouri, the boy again underwent an exorcism, which was carried out by several priests, including Fr. William Bowdern. The exorcism actually lasted for weeks, with the boy voicing Latin phrases (which he did not innately have the ability to speak), cursing, and manifesting physical resistance to all sacred objects.

The boy was transferred to a hospital psychiatric ward, where Fr. Bowdern continued the exorcism. With the family’s consent, the boy was baptized a Catholic.

On an Easter Monday, while the priest continued administering the rite, the demon recognized the presence of St. Michael the Archangel (who in Catholicism is an appointed angel who defends against evil).

The demon was expelled. Simultaneously, a sound similar to a gunshot was heard throughout the hospital.

If a Ouija board has served in the past as a medium through which the demonic is able to communicate with an unwitting subject, could it be that AI has an equally dangerous potential to provide a comparable vehicle with which to take possession of an individual?

In my opinion, it does.

I think in many cases AI is acting as a type of modern-day Ouija board of the digital kind.

It occurred to me that both platforms appear to be friendly, at least initially. Both platforms are able to present personalities that appear to have superior knowledge. And both platforms have the pattern of luring one in under seemingly harmless pretenses, only to later reveal a hidden darkness.

Beware of demons that lurk in the technological shadows. They are indeed real.

Be cognizant, and at the same time, be unafraid.

Because God holds us all in the shadow of His wings, if only we let Him.

Chris Pratt’s Faith Love Story

It was in the late 2000s when actor Chris Pratt secured Hollywood fame for his portrayal of Andy Dwyer in the NBC sitcom “Parks and Recreation.”

Although his role in the sitcom was meant to be temporary, producers liked him so much they asked him to become a series regular.

After dropping out of college, working as a waiter, and living homeless in Hawaii, Pratt had clearly come a very long way. He was now a genuine TV star.

His career would continue to rocket as he obtained supporting roles in a number of significant films, including “Moneyball,” “Zero Dark Thirty,” and “Her.”

He hit true A-list status through major roles in two blockbuster film franchises: Marvel’s “Guardians of the Galaxy” series and the “Jurassic World” trilogy.

“The Magnificent Seven,” “Passengers,” and “The Tomorrow War” would usher in other stellar roles. And his voicing of characters in “The Lego Movie” franchise, “The Super Mario Bros. Movie,” and “The Garfield Movie” would further expand his audience horizons.

As an actor, Pratt possesses a unique capacity to simultaneously handle drama, action, and humor. This combination is serving to continually propel his career.

The proof is in the celluloid. Movies in which he has had a starring role have grossed over $13 billion worldwide.

With all the success he has achieved, he is nevertheless motivated by something much greater – a deep and abiding faith.

Like nearly everyone else on earth, Pratt has wrestled with doubt and particularly throughout his early years found himself falling into old habits.

“I’d make promises, but I didn’t keep them,” he said in an interview.

However, his life changed in 2012 when his baby son Jack was born premature and was forced to spend his first month in a neonatal intensive care unit.

“We were scared for a long time,” Pratt said.

“He [Jack] had all of these issues going on. I prayed hard to God. I was in a season of transition spiritually at that time, and didn’t quite fully understand. I made a deal with God again: ‘I’m sorry, God, here I am again, asking for your grace again.’ And He really saved my son, and that was the moment [my faith] was cemented,” he said.

Pratt recalls it as a miracle that restored his faith in God.

“My heart softened, and my faith hardened. That was the moment that I was like, ‘Moving forward, I’m going to give my platform to God,’” he said.

Since then he has used his celebrity profile to enhance awareness of the Almighty.

He wants to affirm people who are believers in Christ, but he also hopes to reach out to the people who haven’t yet experienced God’s presence.

“I want to be a light to people who’ve never seen light. I want to be a light to people who have seen light but turned away from it or been afraid of it,” Pratt said.

As a father of four, he wants to raise his children “with an understanding that their dad was unashamed of his faith in Jesus, and with a profound understanding of the power of prayer, and the grace and the love and the joy that can come from a relationship with Jesus.”

He is well aware that many in the entertainment industry don’t share his views. But this doesn’t deter him.

“It’s who I am. I’m not going to hide behind it. A city on a hill cannot be hidden,” he stated.

Pratt understands the dark side of fame and the ways in which celebrities can oftentimes be trapped by it.

He once responded to a question from “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert about the inherent danger of intense fame.

“If the spotlight that’s shining on you is brighter than the light that comes from within you — it’ll kill you…,” he said.

He knows firsthand that being a Christian in Hollywood is going against the grain.

When faced with criticism, his approach is to pray for his critics.

“If people don’t understand me, I’m going to pray for them, and then I’m going to go back and hang out with my kids and play tag,” he said.

Pratt exhibits the beautiful virtue of self-sacrifice, which is encompassed in a relationship with God. He has counted the cost of standing up for his faith and is totally willing to pay the price.

“I care enough about Jesus to take a stand, even if it cost me. It could cost me everything, but I don’t care. It’s worth it to me because this is what I’m called to do, it’s where my heart is.”

Pratt is now starring in the original happily-ever-after love story.

When you experience the love of God, you want everyone else to feel it too.