Hollywood actor Chris Pratt has delivered a moving and deeply personal account of how the terrifying near-death experience of his firstborn son fundamentally reshaped his spiritual life and relationship with God.
A Father's Desperate Prayer in the ICU
In an emotional essay for Maria Shriver's Sunday Paper, the 46-year-old star traced his faith back to a childhood where he was baptised Catholic and attended various congregations. However, he admitted his spiritual path was marked by cycles of rebellion and renewal. The pivotal moment arrived in 2012 with the premature birth of his son, Jack.
Jack, whom Pratt shares with ex-wife Anna Faris, was born a fragile nine weeks early and immediately placed in intensive care. Facing this crisis, Pratt found himself returning to prayer with a new, desperate intensity. "When my son Jack was fighting for his life, I found myself back on my knees, pleading to God for a miracle," he wrote. In his fear, he made a solemn vow: if his son survived, he would dedicate his life to sharing God's message.
From Trauma to Tangible Faith
After a harrowing month in the ICU, Jack survived. Today, he is a healthy 13-year-old, a fact for which Pratt expresses daily gratitude. The actor was careful to acknowledge parents who did not receive the same answered prayer, stating, "My heart is with them always." This experience permanently altered his priorities, a point he also highlighted in a 2014 interview.
Pratt's faith was further deepened during a recent trip to Rome to film a documentary on St. Peter. Standing beneath the basilica near what are believed to be the remains of Jesus' disciple made his faith feel profoundly tangible. He used the metaphor of light and darkness to explain his outlook: "Darkness is not a presence. Darkness is simply the absence of light," he wrote, noting that faith helps cast life's shadows behind us.
Living a Faith-Focused Life Amidst Scrutiny
The "Guardians of the Galaxy" star acknowledged that speaking openly about religion invites criticism, but he feels a compelling need to share how his beliefs have shaped him. Despite his 2018 divorce from Anna Faris, who has also spoken about the fear of Jack's premature birth, the two maintain an amicable co-parenting relationship.
Chris Pratt has since remarried author Katherine Schwarzenegger, and they have three children together. Anna Faris married cinematographer Michael Barrett in 2021. Pratt's story stands as a powerful testament to a father's love and a personal spiritual awakening forged in the fires of crisis.
