Mark Wahlberg on Faith, Family, and Fasting

Actor Mark Wahlberg has long been open about his Catholic faith, regularly attending Mass and wearing ashes on his forehead for Lent. In an interview with Savannah Guthrie, the 51-year-old emphasized that while he shares his beliefs, he’s careful not to force them on others—including his four children. Wahlberg believes it’s a “greater sin” to hide his faith but stresses the importance of respecting people of different backgrounds.

He hopes his children will be inspired by his actions, not pressured. “If it works for Dad, maybe it will work for us,” he says, describing how they observe his commitment to prayer and Scripture daily.

Wahlberg also discussed his participation in the Pray40 Lent Challenge on the Catholic prayer app Hallow, where he’s a guest narrator and ambassador. He believes fasting helps people break away from bad habits and focus on becoming better versions of themselves. For him, fasting includes abstaining from meat and limiting meals during Lent.

Discipline, he says, has been vital to his success in both life and faith. “God didn’t come to save the faithful, but the guilty,” he reflected. For Wahlberg, faith is everything—it’s helped shape his identity and continues to guide his life.