Jim Caviezel and wife respond to God’s call, adopt two children

Denver, Colo., Apr 30, 2008 / 16:08 pm

In an interview with "Christopher Closeup," a radio show for the media apostolate The Christophers, Jim Caviezel described both the deep fear he felt when adopting two children with brain tumors, and the joy he and his wife have received from doing the will of Christ.

Caviezel, best known in Christian circles for his role as Jesus in Mel Gibson's movie, "The Passion of the Christ", has been committed to his Catholic and pro-life beliefs for a while.  When he was challenged to prove his faith by adopting a disabled child, he and his wife, Kerri, traveled to China where they adopted a five-year old boy who was living in an orphanage.

Caviezel recalled that he was "completely terrified" at the possibility of adopting a child with a disability, but deep within his soul, he knew that God wanted him to do it. 

He compared the fear he felt at the prospect of adopting a child to other "fearful" times in his life.  Caviezel explained that in some of the "most important decisions" in his life, he has experienced a "huge fear" and found that he needed to trust God through his faith.

The boy, Bo, had been abandoned on a train as an infant and was raised in the orphanage where they children were told that they did not have a mother. Instead, orphanage workers told them they were born out of the dirt. 

Bo also struggled with a brain tumor that threatened his life.  Though surgery has not been able to remove the tumor, the Caviezels have been by Bo's side throughout the procedures.

Though there have been difficult times, Caviezel notes that the adoption has been a blessing from God.  "The joy that we have from this child, he's like our own…"

Later, the couple decided to adopt another child, a healthy newborn girl.  However, before the adoption took place, they met a five year-old girl – also with a brain tumor.

The couple stated that they knew the healthy baby would find a good home, however it was likely that the sick girl would not.  They decided to adopt the five year-old and have been blessed ever since.

Caviezel continued by discussing the courage it takes to do the will of Christ and encouraging those who may be scared to do what God is asking.  "When you have great fear, that is when you are a Christian…you have no idea the blessings you have coming to you if you take a chance on faith."

Reflecting on his earlier years, Caviezel stated that he has been a coward in the past – one who would run away from the will of Christ that seemed so difficult.  "I never want to do that again." 

Caviezel added that he prays every day that to have the courage to do the right thing and when considering whether or not to do the will of God, to never take for granted the sacrifices that He made for us.