7 Celebrities Observing Lent and Encouraging Others to Join

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

The annual season of Lent kicked off on Wednesday with Ash Wednesday, just 40 days ahead of Easter/Resurrection Sunday.

Lent, which is practiced by Catholics and some Christians worldwide, originates from the early church's practice of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. A number of well-known Catholic and Christian celebrities have taken part in this year's Lent and encouraged others to do likewise. Here are 7 of them.

Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Today

Jonathan Roumie & Chris Pratt

Jonathan Roumie & Chris Pratt

In an Instagram Live Wednesday morning, the Catholic-based Hallow app did a live stream with Jonathan Roumie, a devout Catholic who plays Jesus Christ in "The Chosen," and actor and professing Christian Chris Pratt. 

"There are a lot of lives in need of saving," said Pratt, who recently partnered up with Hallow's Lent Pray40 Community prayer challenge alongside Catholic actor Mark Wahlberg. 

"I hope people turn right towards God and just feel that love and that hope and that joy that comes with God," he continued. "I think God deserves everybody, no matter where you are, who you are ... you're deserving of God's love. And I want to be part of that."

"I want God to use me, and however he sees fit, to bring people to him so that their lives can be beautiful, so that they (can) connect to their eternal spirit in heaven and get to have heaven right here on Earth, and spend the rest of their days being a light," Pratt said.

"I hope people turn right towards God and just feel that love and that hope and that joy that comes with God," he continued. "I think God deserves everybody, no matter where you are, who you are ... you're deserving of God's love. And I want to be part of that."

According to a Hallow press release, Pratt will guide sessions on fasting alongside Wahlberg. Meanwhile, Roumie, who has regularly partnered with the Hallow app, will be guiding the prayer challenge with Sr. Miriam James Heidland, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Wahlberg.

Roumie, who is a prominent figure associated with the Hallow app, has often narrated various prayers and Bible readings and appeared in ads promoting the app.

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/HallowApp

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg

During an interview on Fox News, Wahlberg explained what participating in Lent meant for him.

"It's a reminder that I need to do moreand I need to be better," he said. "There's things that are in my life that are distracting and take me away from my focus on building my relationship and getting closer to God. Of course, living that purpose-filled life that He chose for me." 

He explained that Lent is also about striving to be better amid one's imperfections.

"I think we all have things to repent for," he told Fox.

"I had a very, very troubled childhood," the actor continued. "Until now, just you know, being impatient with people, being short with people, not being as understanding, as thoughtful. You get caught up in all these things every day in your life. There's only one person who was perfect that walked this Earth, and that was Jesus. And everybody else should be a little more mindful."

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/Mark Wahlberg

Patricia Heaton

Patricia Heaton

Actress Patricia Heaton also posted on social media celebrating Ash Wednesday. In response to someone who asked Heaton whether Ash Wednesday was biblical, Heaton posted an image explaining the practice of fasting in Scripture. 

"At Nicea, the council settled on the 40-day fast period for Lent", the post states, citing biblical examples of 40-day events which explains that the religious observance is primarily based on the temptation of Jesus' in the wilderness while on a 40-day fast. 

"Jesus spent in the desert fasting, praying, and being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). But though the length of Lent was set by the council, its start date in relation to Easter was still undecided."

Photo Credit: ©X/Patricia Heaton

David Henrie

David Henrie

Actor David Henrie, who stars in the Disney+ series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, also posted on Ash Wednesday with a picture of the ashes on his forehead shaped like a cross. 

"A blessed Ash Wednesday and lent to you all. '..for dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return.' #lent here we go 💪 🔥 Talk to me people, what are we doing to strip away our old self and make way for the new? #ashtag," Henrie, a practicing Catholic, wrote.

Henrie has also been featured on the Hallow app.  

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/David Henrie

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani

Singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani announced on social media on Wednesday that she will be participating in the Hallow App's Pray40 challenge. 

"Every year, i try to make this time more intentional, and i'm so excited to do @hallowapp's Pray40 challenge – The Way," Stefani, who was raised Catholic, wrote

"This challenge is all about deepening our faith and remembering what Jesus did for us," she added. 

Stefani also shared that the challenge is being led by Roumie, Pratt, and Wahlberg, whom she described as "amazing people" and shared that it will also include her own faith story. 

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/gwenstefani

Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez

Television host and actor Mario Lopez, who attended a Mass on Ash Wednesday, encouraged followers to show more acts of kindness this Lenten season rather than give something up. 

"Time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. So for the next 40 days. By the way, instead of giving something up for Lent, you can choose to perform an act of good," he said in an Instagram video.

"Volunteer at a local charity or donate to a cause you care about. Or just make an effort to be more kind and compassionate to others," he added. 

"I always find it a little bit more impactful to do something as opposed to giving up like bread or chocolate or something like that. But you know what? You do you. God bless. Have a blessed Ash Wednesday, and stay prayed up." Lopez concluded.

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/Mario Lopez

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links


September 26 - Phoenix, AZ
Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts


November 2 - Detroit, MI
Zion Christian Church in Troy


October 6 - Los Angeles, CA
Pasadena Convention Center


November 5 - San Antonio, TX
Norris Centers – The Grand Red Oak Ballroom


October 8 - Sacramento, CA
William Jessup University


November 7 - Tampa, FL
The Palladium at St. Pete College


October 22 - Minneapolis, MN
Crowne Plaza AiRE


November 15 - San Francisco, CA
Fremont Marriott Silicon Valley


October 23 - Philadelphia, PA
Green Valley Country Club


November 16 - Denver, CO
CU South Denver - Formerly Wildlife Experience


November 2 - Chicago, IL
Chicago Westin Northwest in Itasca


November 21 - Cleveland, OH
Holiday Inn Rockside in Independence



Salem Radio Network Speakers

Larry Elder is an American lawyer, writer, and radio and television personality who calls himself the "Sage of South Central" a district of Los Angeles, Larry says his philosophy is to entertain, inform, provoke and to hopefully uplift. His calling card is "we have a country to save" and to him this means returning to the bedrock Constitutional principles of limited government and maximum personal responsibility. Elder's iconoclastic wit and intellectual agility makes him a particularly attractive voice in a nation that seems weary of traditional racial dialogue.” – Los Angeles Times.

Mike Gallagher Mike Gallagher began his broadcasting career in 1978 in Dayton, Ohio. Today, he is one of the most listened-to talk radio show hosts in America, recently having been ranked in the Talkers Magazine “Heavy Hundred” list – the 100 most important talk radio hosts in America. Prior to being launched into national syndication in 1998, Mike hosted the morning show on WABC-AM in New York City. Today, Talkers Magazine reports that his show is heard by over 3.75 million weekly listeners. Besides his radio work, Mike is seen on Fox News Channel as an on-air contributor, frequently appearing on the cable news giant.

Hugh Hewitt is one of the nation’s leading bloggers and a genuine media revolutionary. He brings that expertise, his wit and what The New Yorker magazine calls his “amiable but relentless manner” to his nationally syndicated show each day.

When Dr. Sebastian Gorka was growing up, he listened to talk radio under his pillow with a transistor radio, dreaming that one day he would be behind the microphone. Beginning New Year’s Day 2019, he got his wish. Gorka now hosts America First every weekday afternoon 3 to 6pm ET. Gorka’s unique story works well on the radio. He is national security analyst for the Fox News Channel and author of two books: "Why We Fight" and "Defeating Jihad." His latest book releasing this fall is “War For America’s Soul.” He is uniquely qualified to fight the culture war and stand up for what is great about America, his adopted home country.

Broadcasting from his home station of KRLA in Los Angeles, the Dennis Prager Show is heard across the country. Everything in life – from politics to religion to relationships – is grist for Dennis’ mill. If it’s interesting, if it affects your life, then Dennis will be talking about it – with passion, humor, insight and wisdom.

Sean Hannity is a conservative radio and television host, and one of the original primetime hosts on the Fox News Channel, where he has appeared since 1996. Sean Hannity began his radio career at a college station in California, before moving on to markets in the Southeast and New York. Today, he’s one of the most listened to on-air voices. Hannity’s radio program went into national syndication on September 10, 2001, and airs on more than 500 stations. Talkers Magazine estimates Hannity’s weekly radio audience at 13.5 million. In 1996 he was hired as one of the original hosts on Fox News Channel. As host of several popular Fox programs, Hannity has become the highest-paid news anchor on television.

Michelle Malkin is a mother, wife, blogger, conservative syndicated columnist, longtime cable TV news commentator, and best-selling author of six books. She started her newspaper journalism career at the Los Angeles Daily News in 1992, moved to the Seattle Times in 1995, and has been penning nationally syndicated newspaper columns for Creators Syndicate since 1999. She is founder of conservative Internet start-ups Hot Air and Twitchy.com. Malkin has received numerous awards for her investigative journalism, including the Council on Governmental Ethics Laws (COGEL) national award for outstanding service for the cause of governmental ethics and leadership (1998), the Reed Irvine Accuracy in Media Award for Investigative Journalism (2006), the Heritage Foundation and Franklin Center for Government & Public Integrity's Breitbart Award for Excellence in Journalism (2013), the Center for Immigration Studies' Eugene Katz Award for Excellence in the Coverage of Immigration Award (2016), and the Manhattan Film Festival's Film Heals Award (2018). Married for 26 years and the mother of two teenage children, she lives with her family in Colorado. Follow her at michellemalkin.com. (Photo reprinted with kind permission from Peter Duke Photography.)

Sponsored by:

7 Celebrities Observing Lent and Encouraging Others to Join

Carbonatix Pre-Player Loader

Audio By Carbonatix

The annual season of Lent kicked off on Wednesday with Ash Wednesday, just 40 days ahead of Easter/Resurrection Sunday.

Lent, which is practiced by Catholics and some Christians worldwide, originates from the early church's practice of fasting, prayer, and almsgiving. A number of well-known Catholic and Christian celebrities have taken part in this year's Lent and encouraged others to do likewise. Here are 7 of them.

Photo Credit: ©YouTube/Today

Jonathan Roumie & Chris Pratt

Jonathan Roumie & Chris Pratt

In an Instagram Live Wednesday morning, the Catholic-based Hallow app did a live stream with Jonathan Roumie, a devout Catholic who plays Jesus Christ in "The Chosen," and actor and professing Christian Chris Pratt. 

"There are a lot of lives in need of saving," said Pratt, who recently partnered up with Hallow's Lent Pray40 Community prayer challenge alongside Catholic actor Mark Wahlberg. 

"I hope people turn right towards God and just feel that love and that hope and that joy that comes with God," he continued. "I think God deserves everybody, no matter where you are, who you are ... you're deserving of God's love. And I want to be part of that."

"I want God to use me, and however he sees fit, to bring people to him so that their lives can be beautiful, so that they (can) connect to their eternal spirit in heaven and get to have heaven right here on Earth, and spend the rest of their days being a light," Pratt said.

"I hope people turn right towards God and just feel that love and that hope and that joy that comes with God," he continued. "I think God deserves everybody, no matter where you are, who you are ... you're deserving of God's love. And I want to be part of that."

According to a Hallow press release, Pratt will guide sessions on fasting alongside Wahlberg. Meanwhile, Roumie, who has regularly partnered with the Hallow app, will be guiding the prayer challenge with Sr. Miriam James Heidland, Fr. Mike Schmitz, and Wahlberg.

Roumie, who is a prominent figure associated with the Hallow app, has often narrated various prayers and Bible readings and appeared in ads promoting the app.

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/HallowApp

Mark Wahlberg

Mark Wahlberg

During an interview on Fox News, Wahlberg explained what participating in Lent meant for him.

"It's a reminder that I need to do moreand I need to be better," he said. "There's things that are in my life that are distracting and take me away from my focus on building my relationship and getting closer to God. Of course, living that purpose-filled life that He chose for me." 

He explained that Lent is also about striving to be better amid one's imperfections.

"I think we all have things to repent for," he told Fox.

"I had a very, very troubled childhood," the actor continued. "Until now, just you know, being impatient with people, being short with people, not being as understanding, as thoughtful. You get caught up in all these things every day in your life. There's only one person who was perfect that walked this Earth, and that was Jesus. And everybody else should be a little more mindful."

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/Mark Wahlberg

Patricia Heaton

Patricia Heaton

Actress Patricia Heaton also posted on social media celebrating Ash Wednesday. In response to someone who asked Heaton whether Ash Wednesday was biblical, Heaton posted an image explaining the practice of fasting in Scripture. 

"At Nicea, the council settled on the 40-day fast period for Lent", the post states, citing biblical examples of 40-day events which explains that the religious observance is primarily based on the temptation of Jesus' in the wilderness while on a 40-day fast. 

"Jesus spent in the desert fasting, praying, and being tempted by the devil (Matthew 4:1-11). But though the length of Lent was set by the council, its start date in relation to Easter was still undecided."

Photo Credit: ©X/Patricia Heaton

David Henrie

David Henrie

Actor David Henrie, who stars in the Disney+ series Wizards Beyond Waverly Place, also posted on Ash Wednesday with a picture of the ashes on his forehead shaped like a cross. 

"A blessed Ash Wednesday and lent to you all. '..for dust thou art, and into dust thou shalt return.' #lent here we go 💪 🔥 Talk to me people, what are we doing to strip away our old self and make way for the new? #ashtag," Henrie, a practicing Catholic, wrote.

Henrie has also been featured on the Hallow app.  

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/David Henrie

Gwen Stefani

Gwen Stefani

Singer-songwriter Gwen Stefani announced on social media on Wednesday that she will be participating in the Hallow App's Pray40 challenge. 

"Every year, i try to make this time more intentional, and i'm so excited to do @hallowapp's Pray40 challenge – The Way," Stefani, who was raised Catholic, wrote

"This challenge is all about deepening our faith and remembering what Jesus did for us," she added. 

Stefani also shared that the challenge is being led by Roumie, Pratt, and Wahlberg, whom she described as "amazing people" and shared that it will also include her own faith story. 

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/gwenstefani

Mario Lopez

Mario Lopez

Television host and actor Mario Lopez, who attended a Mass on Ash Wednesday, encouraged followers to show more acts of kindness this Lenten season rather than give something up. 

"Time for reflection and repentance in preparation for the celebration of Easter. So for the next 40 days. By the way, instead of giving something up for Lent, you can choose to perform an act of good," he said in an Instagram video.

"Volunteer at a local charity or donate to a cause you care about. Or just make an effort to be more kind and compassionate to others," he added. 

"I always find it a little bit more impactful to do something as opposed to giving up like bread or chocolate or something like that. But you know what? You do you. God bless. Have a blessed Ash Wednesday, and stay prayed up." Lopez concluded.

Photo Credit: ©Instagram/Mario Lopez

 

Salem News Channel Today

Sponsored Links

On Air & Up Next

See the Full Program Guide