Mark Wahlberg has opened up about what he's giving up in the name of Christianity to celebrate Ash Wednesday.
On February 14, millions of Christians around the world observed Ash Wednesday, a holy day of prayer and fasting.
But this year, a lot of folks turned to the Catholic meditation app Hallow to meditate alongside others in a collective event that was promoted at the Super Bowl just a few days prior.
Have a look at the full commercial below:This year, Father Stu actor Mark Wahlberg and The Chosen star Jonathan Roumie, banded together to lead the worldwide prayer meditations and discussed their love for their faith in a new interview with Fox News.
"People are always asking, what are you giving up? I've given many things up for Lent, whether it be... alcohol or something... sweet, but for me, it's really about trying to do more... trying to be better, trying to grow as a person, as a servant to God," he told host Ainsley Earhardt. "As a father, a husband… as an example… and using all that real-life experience that I have."
The 52-year-old also added that he likes to start his days on his knees in prayer.
"People always ask ‘why can’t you have a normal schedule?' My thing is, if I'm at home, I do all the things that I need to do that are personal time, before the kids and my wife get up," he stated. "I always get eight hours of sleep. It's not like I'm burning the candle at both ends, per se. I'm getting the rest that I need.
"In a perfect world, I'll go to bed at 7-7:30, wake up at 3-3:30 and then do my things, get those out of the way before I start my day with my family or work," he continued before adding: "I have a lot to be grateful for."
The star then opened up about how he feels about Ash Wednesday falling on Valentine's Day.
"We just want to be able to do more, and I think, what better than to have Ash Wednesday fall on Valentine's Day? Because where do you get more love than with the Lord and... in a time where there's such a disconnect? We need things to bring people together and the power of prayer is doing that," he said.
Roumie also agreed with Wahlberg, stating that prayer is the central focus before embarking on your day.
"I think it sets everything up. It sets up your mind... It sets your spirit up for... challenges, perhaps for the day and as well as the successes," the actor, who has portrayed Jesus before, said. "And I think as Mark saying... starting the day with gratitude and knowing that... we've been given so much in this life, to be grateful for to God."
This is not the first time we've seen Wahlberg open up about the importance of his faith.
Last year during Lent, which is set to take place after Shrove Tuesday, the Me Time actor revealed that he doesn't try to hide his relationship with God in an interview on NBC's Today show.
"It’s a balance," the 51-year-old told co-anchor Savannah Guthrie while sporting a black cross on his forehead, "I don’t want to jam it down anybody’s throat, but I do not deny my faith. That’s an even bigger sin."
"You know, it’s not popular in my industry but I cannot deny my faith," he continued. "It’s important for me to share that with people. But, I have friends from all walks of life and all different types of faiths and religions, so it’s important to respect and honor them as well."
He credited his discipline within his career to his faith too.
"I’ve been rewarded for it so much, and I want to share that with people, whether that’s with fasting, working out more, detaching from other things and just spending more time with God, in prayer or in thoughtful reflection. Those things are important."