“God is the fire,” said Eduardo Verástegui to Ave Maria University students. Verástegui, the actor in the 2006 hit film Bella and producer of multiple films including the 2023 worldwide phenomenon Sound of Freedom, met with several Ave Maria University students during a recent trip to AMU.  

Verástegui was in the town of Ave Maria as the keynote speaker at a pro-life rally. He graciously stayed for an impromptu meeting with AMU students and enjoyed hearing about the various pro-life activities and student-led initiatives on campus.  

During his informal talk, Verástegui touched on a wide range of topics from success and freedom to community life.  

“‘We are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful to God.’ That phrase helped me a lot when I was in Hollywood, trying to be a practicing Catholic but at the same time successful,” said Verástegui. “Things were not coming together, and I was suffering and struggling a lot.”

“But then I heard those words, ‘We are not called to be successful. We are called to be faithful to God.’ That is our success. Now, if by being faithful to God success comes, it’s a blessing. Thanks be to God. Use that success to make a difference in people’s lives and make this world a better place. But if it doesn’t come, don’t compromise your faith, your values, or your integrity.”

His message resonated with AMU junior Jacob Weipert. “He is such an example to me and my classmates through his humility and perseverance. I hope to follow his advice in fighting for the values of my Catholic faith,” said Weipert.

In his talk, Verástegui identified a key component to staying faithful: Community.  

“Community is very important,” said Verástegui. “That’s why I think this is a paradise—because of the community. People who think like you. Because we are very easy to influence. If you start hanging out with people who don’t think like you, it’s only a matter of time …”

Looking around at the students, he emphasized the support and accountability within a solid community. “No matter how on fire you are, if you step out of the community, prayer, Mass … little by little you extinguish,” he said.

Verástegui concluded, “It’s very important to be on fire. But that fire doesn’t come from us. God is the fire. We just need to be close to the fire and to the community.”

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