Actor Shia LaBeouf received the Sacrament of Confirmation last Sunday, which completes his conversion to Roman Catholicism, with his confirmation sponsor going on to reveal that the “Transformers” star might take things a bit further by becoming a deacon some time down the road. This is awesome news. LaBeouf has had a bit of a rocky road during his tenure as an actor, so hopefully his new found faith will provide him with an anchor and some stability from which he can grow as an individual.
Here’s more from the Daily Wire:
The 37-year-old actor was confirmed into the Catholic Church by Bishop Robert Barron on Dec. 31 at Old Mission Santa Inés Parish in Solvang, California, the Catholic News Agency reported.
“We are thrilled to share that our dear friend Shia LaBeouf has fully entered the Church this past weekend through the sacrament of confirmation!” a post on the Capuchin Franciscans – Western American Province Facebook read.
Hollywood star Shia LaBeouf was received into the Catholic Church with the sacrament of confirmation by Winona-Rochester Bishop Robert Barron on Sunday evening. https://t.co/LTuD2sTZBC
— Catholic News Agency (@cnalive) January 3, 2024
“The Capuchin Franciscan friars are overjoyed to welcome him into the fold and witness his deep commitment to his faith journey,” it then stated. “Shia LaBeouf, known for his incredible talent and passion in the entertainment industry, has embarked on a profound spiritual journey that has led him to embrace the teachings of the Catholic Church.”
“His decision to fully enter the Church is a testament to his sincere desire to grow in his relationship with God and live out the Gospel values,” the statement added, before requesting prayers for the actor “as he continues to deepen his faith and seek God’s guidance in his life.”
The post finished up by stating that LaBeouf’s journey might inspire “others to explore their own spiritual paths and find solace in the loving embrace of the Church.”
LaBeouf’s sponsor, Capuchin friar Brother Alexander Rodriguez, told the outlet that the actor has expressed an interest in becoming a deacon “sometime in the future.”In 2022, LaBeouf appeared on “Bishop Barron Presents: Conversations at the Crossroads” and talked about studying for his role as St. Padre Pio in the film “Padre Pio.”
The actor told Barron that the role led him to convert, admitting that he always had a belief, but no connection.
During the interview with Bishop Barron, the actor clarified that he was never an atheist, but considered himself to be agnostic, meaning he didn’t really know if God existed or not or if He did, whether or not we could know Him personally. He also credited the film about the life of Padre Pio with saving his life, noting the role came along at a time in his career when things were going badly, both personally and professionally.
I, for one, am always glad to hear when someone turns to Christ, especially a person as high profile as LaBeouf. Being in the entertainment industry can be soul draining, particularly when you start out as a child actor as LaBeouf did. Hollywood has a well established reputation for obliterating the innocence of childhood for young actors, and it seems it took its toll on LaBeouf as well.
Let’s hope for healing for the wounds LaBeouf maybe dealing with, through the power of Christ and prayer.
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