David Henrie’s Life-Changing Monastery Experience

Former Disney star David Henrie recently shared insights into how a visit to a monastery shifted his lifestyle away from the “secular” Hollywood scene. This revelation came during his appearance on Raymond Arroyo’s “Arroyo Grande” podcast, where he discussed his journey of faith and transformation.

Henrie, known for his role in “Wizards of Waverly Place,” opened up about how meeting fellow actor Kevin James led him to explore his spirituality. “I started changing my whole perspective on life and faith,” Henrie said, describing his initial struggle with the materialistic and worldly lifestyle he experienced in Hollywood, which left him feeling unfulfilled.

“I call it the bubblegum theory of pleasure. Every time you eat a piece of bubblegum, it loses its flavor. In a few moments, you pop another one in. At the end of the day, you’ve gone through the whole pack, and now you just feel worse than you did when you started. That was me before I met Kevin,” he explained.

Henrie credits a 2012 visit to St. Michael’s Abbey in Orange County, facilitated by Kevin James, with providing him comfort and a sense of relief. During this time, Henrie engaged in his first general confession, which had a profound impact on him.

“I felt so relieved,” Henrie told Arroyo. “It was the monastery that changed my life.”

In addition to his spiritual journey, Henrie has focused on creative projects such as his documentary series “Seeking Beauty.” This series, which premiered in January on EWTN+, explores the deeper meaning behind various cultural elements in Italy. A second season, focusing on Spain, is currently in development.