Mark Wahlberg Quotes Pope Benedict XVI in Ash Wednesday Interview on 'Today Show' (Video Inside)

What a wonderful example!

Actor and producer Mark Wahlberg appeared on NBC’s ‘Today Show’ for an Ash Wednesday interview with host Savannah Guthrie. He discussed his faith, family life, the season of lent, and his involvement with the Catholic prayer app, Hallow, all while sporting his Ash Wednesday ashes.

The husband and father of four grew up Catholic and often vocalizes his faith on social media. In this interview, he encouraged viewers to be “better versions of themselves” through prayer, fasting, and a relationship with God.

“Being able to detach…and focus on good habits as opposed to bad habits,” he said “There are challenges for fasting, [for example], today I won’t have any meat. I’ll have one meal today ,and I’ll do that every Friday throughout Lent and Good Friday. But just challenging people to be better versions of themselves.”

Wahlberg later explains that practicing his faith is “not popular” in the Hollywood industry, but “it’s everything,” and he “cannot deny his faith,” which is “an even bigger sin.”

“It’s afforded me so many things. Obviously, you know God didn’t come to save the saints. He came to save the sinners. We’ve all had things and issues in our lives, and we want to be better versions of ourselves. Focusing on my faith has allowed me to do that,” Wahlberg said.

Upon stressing the importance of community faith worship, he quoted Pope Benedict XVI.

“The world affords you a lot of comfortable. We’re not made for comfort. We’re made for greatness. In order to be [great], we gotta be in the fight to get the rewards.”