Chris Pratt Credits His Oldest Son For Realigning His Faith

Chris Pratt found his spiritual awakening within the family.

The actor got candid about a moment in parenthood that changed everything for him when it comes to realigning his faith and spirituality.

Chris Pratt welcomed four children across two marriages to his ex, Anna Faris, and current partner, Katherine Schwarzenegger.

The actor, in his essay for Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper, stated that he grew up with a deep knowledge of the healing power of God due to his background in a Catholic church, which shaped his belief in God.

Since finding faith, Pratt confessed that he has struggled with internal struggles marked by cycles of sins and forgiveness, which continued until his son's birth. In his words:

"Then, when my son Jack was fighting for his life, I found myself back on my knees, pleading to God for a miracle. I promised that if Jack survived, I would devote my life to sharing God's message. This time I meant it."

Pratt's son, Jack, was reportedly born nine weeks prematurely in 2012 and spent a month in intensive care. The actor noted in the letter that each day since his family survived that period, every day has given him an opportunity for to thank God for his family and his kids.

Pratt continued that another pivotal trip to Rome to film a documentary on St. Peter had another drastic effect on his faith. He noted that standing deep beneath the basilica and experiencing the 2000-year-old bones of Jesus's disciple really made faith a physical concept to him.

He went deeper into the relationship between faith and vulnerability and the struggle between light and darkness in the context of spiritual metaphors. The actor also confessed to the tension he feels when identifying publicly with religion and faith in Hollywood.

"The louder I shine, the more sharply some people see their own shadows—and instead of turning, they recoil," the actor explained, adding that he still feels the urge to speak about what faith has brought to his life whenever the opportunity surfaces.

Pratt has never shied away from his reputation as a family man in the industry. At every chance he gets, he encourages more involvement in the process of parenthood and family. 

Two years ago, The Blast stated that the actor expressed in an interview that parents should rush the process of starting and building their family.

The actor recommended this to make a case for parents and kids not to miss any opportunities to spend quality time together and create memories. In the actor's words:

"People say all the time, 'Don't rush to have kids.' I'm afraid I  have to disagree. Rush. Have them. Of course, make sure you find a great partner, but don't wait."

He also raved about how becoming a parent completely changes one's perspective on life and even offers a new view of life. The actor journeyed through the stages involved in their growth, and how connecting with them slowly evolves from children to individuals.

"The softness of their hearts. How their minds work. How they're the same as you. How they're different," the actor continued.

Pratt got into details about how much his kids know about his adventures as an actor and if they are aware of his fame. He explained that it is a gradual process and would happen when they get older.

However, the actor stated that his oldest son is fully aware of who he is and has even watched most of his movies. The actor explained further that his younger kids were amused during a coffee shop visit when a volleyball team approached him for photos.

Pratt shared that he duly informed the team that his status takes the backseat during family time, but he gave them his attention. When his daughter asked him why people were asking for pictures, he recalled shutting things down.

Pratt and his wife have been married for six years and have welcomed three kids since they tied the knot in 2019. Since becoming parents, the couple has devised proactive measures to keep their marriage alive and optimize their roles as parents.

As reported by The Blast, Schwarzenegger noted that communication has always been central to their relationship as partners and parents to their kids. The author affirmed that, regardless of their busy schedules, it has remained very important to keep the routine flowing as life gets busier.

When it comes to raising the children, the author shared that they balance each other out by complementing each other in areas of their weaknesses. According to her:

"We're also very present in this beautiful season of life, of having young children and getting to spend a lot of time with them. It's such a sweet time."