John O’Leary’s Story Comes to Life in Soul on Fire

John O’Leary’s Story Comes to Life in Soul on Fire

By Marge Hynes, Writer

Soul on Fire isn’t the kind of film I usually gravitate toward. 

I tend to skip the “feel-good” category in favor of stories that make you pause, rewind, or puzzle things out: sci-fi riddles, twisty thrillers, or layered dramas that demand a second (or third) viewing to fully take it all in. 

But every now and then, a story doesn’t need all that complexity. It just needs to be told, and told well. Soul on Fire is one of those stories.

The Story Behind Soul on Fire

Directed by Sean McNamara (Soul Surfer, Reagan), Soul on Fire tells the miraculous true story of John O’Leary, who was just nine years old when a gasoline explosion left him with burns covering 100% of his body. His chances of survival were slim to none, but through the love of his family, the support of his community, some good old-fashioned St. Louis Cardinals baseball, and his own will to live, John beat the odds and survived.

What followed was years of grueling recovery and dozens of surgeries. John did his best to live a normal life, attending a Jesuit university and working in construction. For a long time, he avoided speaking about the fire at all. But after a chance invitation to share his testimony at a local school, he began to realize his life wasn’t something to endure—it was something to offer.

That yes eventually led him to become a hospital chaplain, a bestselling author (On Fire, In Awe), and a globally sought-after motivational speaker. To date, he’s given over 2,600 talks, encouraging people across every walk of life to live with courage, gratitude, and purpose.

The film stars Joel Courtney as John, William H. Macy as sportscaster Jack Buck, and John Corbett as John’s father. It’s warm and cleanly shot, with a touch of that classic “Hallmark” glow. Yet, it doesn’t shy away from genuine hardship, delivering an authentic recounting of John’s life.

Seeing God in the Flames

Faith is embedded in the bones of this movie, like any good story that tells the truth.

Early on, John’s mother, heavy with her own anguish, tells him that whether he chooses to live or not is between him and God. To some viewers, that might come off as harsh. But to a Catholic viewer, it strikes a deep chord. It’s a memento mori—a reminder of our own mortality. We can recognize it for what it is by turning to Romans 5:3-4:

Not only that, but we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope.

Then there’s Jack Buck, the legendary baseball announcer who visits John in the hospital and, without fanfare, keeps showing up. He doesn’t stand on the sidelines offering platitudes; he meets John face to face, simply because “he seemed like he needed it.” In Buck’s faithful presence, there’s a reflection of what Christ does for each of us: enters into our mess, stays with us in it, and calls us toward life.

John’s father, too, carries this echo of divine love. His refrain—“I love you, and there’s nothing you can do about it”—might sound simple or even clichéd. But in a hospital room, or after a near-fatal car accident, it reflects a love that isn’t earned, but freely and unconditionally given. The no-strings-attached kind. The kind the Lord of the Universe has for each of His sons and daughters.

The LORD is near to the brokenhearted; He saves the contrite in spirit.
– Psalm 34:18

John’s story reminds us that the Catholic life is sacramental. Grace is mediated through the physical: through bodies, through relationships, through suffering, and through love. It insists that pain is never pointless. The wounds we carry can become the very place where God’s mercy breaks in—a mercy that steps into the fire with us, and never lets suffering have the final word.

When you pass through the waters, I will be with you; and when you pass through the rivers, they will not sweep over you. When you walk through the fire, you will not be burned; the flames will not set you ablaze.
– Isaiah 43:2 

A True Story Worth Watching

In a world overwhelmed by noise and novelty, Soul on Fire stands out, offering a deeply human story rooted in the foundational virtues of our Catholic faith: faith, charity, and hope.

As O’Leary said in his interview with Catholic News Agency:

If your faith is real, you’ve got to praise [God] in the miracles, but you also have to praise him in the defeats and the agony. And the cross points the way forward toward both. It’s not just that we’re an Easter people—the way we get there is through Good Friday. And so you’ve got to praise him in both.

If you’re looking for a film that’s tender, heartfelt, and powerful—one that celebrates the nearness of God even in hardship—Soul on Fire is well worth your time.

Soul on Fire releases nationwide on October 10, 2025. See it in theaters!

Watch the trailer or get more info at Soul On Fire | Exclusively In Theaters October 10

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With over eight years of experience and a Bachelor’s in Creative Writing, Marge Hynes is a dynamic writer whose portfolio spans SEO-driven copywriting, journalism, and marketing—a versatile skill set that allows her to craft compelling content for Paloma & Fig’s projects.

Marge’s Catholic faith serves as the cornerstone of her work. She approaches storytelling with thoughtfulness and a deep appreciation for the Lord’s own creative power. Her love of the written word shines through in every project, helping clients articulate their message with clarity, heart, and purpose.

When she’s not writing, Marge can be found leading praise and worship, diving into theological books, or exploring the great outdoors with her loyal dog, Augustine (Auggie for short).