Mickey Rourke thanks God and Catholic faith for 'second chance'

8/26/2009
Catholic News Agency (www.catholicnewsagency.com)

Speaking to the Bosnian daily 'Avaz,' Rourke said, 'God gave me a second chance in life and I thank Him.'

(Mickey Rourke) 'When you fall people push you down even more. The world is full of materialism and envy. When you are famous and you fall, people don�t want you to come back. It is almost impossible to come back. It�s hard enough the first time, but the second time it�s like you don�t even exist �God gave me a second chance.'

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Rome, Italy (CNA) - Famed Hollywood actor Mickey Rourke, who was at the Sarajevo Film Festival last week, told a Bosnian newspaper that he thanks God and his Catholic faith for giving him a �second chance� in life to overcome his addictions, which almost led him to commit suicide.

Speaking to the Bosnian daily �Avaz,� Rourke said, �God gave me a second chance in life and I thank Him.�

Rourke achieved fame in the 80s with action films and erotic thrillers. At the beginning of the 90s he left film for boxing and fell into heavy drug and alcohol addiction.

According to the newspaper, during the most difficult moments of his life, his psychiatrist and his priest were his best friends.

�When you fall people push you down even more. The world is full of materialism and envy. When you are famous and you fall, people don�t want you to come back. It is almost impossible to come back. It�s hard enough the first time, but the second time it�s like you don�t even exist �God gave me a second chance, the guy upstairs helped me out,� he said.

Several years ago Rourke began his return to the big screen and this year he won his first Golden Globe Award for the film �The Wrestler.� Rourke was also an Oscar favorite.

Now, he says, he doesn�t think about Hollywood much. �I don�t care about Hollywood and what the people of Hollywood think. I don�t think about how it works because I simply don�t care. I don�t even dream about it.�

In 2005, when he began to land bigger roles in films, he revealed to a magazine that he was meeting often with his pastor in New York and was on the verge of suicide. �If I weren�t Catholic I would have blown my brains out,� he said

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Founded in continued response to Pope John Paul II�s call for a �New Evangelization,� the Catholic News Agency (CNA) has been, since 2004, one of the fastest growing Catholic news providers to the English speaking world.

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1 - 7 of 7 Comments

Musanga Muteshi
3 years ago
I don't know you Mickey but keep faithful ALWAYS to our Lord & God who is all goodnesss & the Catholic Faith. And all will be well with you always. God Bless you+
pat walsh
3 years ago
i shared dis article with many people and all were xtremely impressed and it touched peoples souls. the greatest of all God's
miracles is His grace which is transformative in changing peoples lives. whether it comes
late in life or early in life God's grace is always a blessing.
Mickey Rourke's testimony should be broadcast throughout the world. let us spread the Word
"G.G." a Pro-Life Catholic
3 years ago
Mickey, God bless you for the courage you show by giving GOD and your Catholic faith credit for a second chance. I pray that your story has and will encourage others who have fallen into heavy drug and alcohol addiction to let GOD give them "a second chance". I pray the Lord will watch out for you the rest of your talented years. You are very talented so keep up the good work. Congratulations on your Golden Globe Award for "The Wrestler"
CarolinaC
3 years ago
God gave us the passages, we determine how to navigate them.
God Bless You Mickey.
Luv U CarolinaC
Eddie Fong
3 years ago
Thank you Sr. Helena!
Sr. Helena Burns, fsp
3 years ago
Real men thank God.
Jean
3 years ago
I hope the Lord looks out for Mickey Rourke for the rest of his days.

God Bless you Mickey and you do have talent.

Make the most of what God has given you.

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