Accompaniment on the Journey
of Chronic Illness and Pain
Unlike temporary health issues such as colds, flu, a broken leg or cuts and scrapes, chronic illness and chronic pain are ongoing - a journey that can stretch in a seeminly endless way to an often-cloudy horizon. The challenges with these conditions can be many and severe, and if they are accompanied by increasingly skeptical questions of faith, they can weigh down the sufferer's body, mind, and spirit. The Peace in the Storm Project offers individuals and groups the opportunity to reflect on specific, spiritual and theological questions that might arise within the heart of suffering ("Why me, God?" "Does God care?" "Why believe if I'll just keep on suffering?"). Anchored in scripture, reflection, and prayer through the themes presented in the book, Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness, these reflections are gently and surely unfolded to encourage those who live with ongoing pain and illness and help them see God's unique and wonderful purpose for them, in and through their journey.
The Book
Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness by Maureen Pratt was published in 2005 by Image/Penguin Random House and in 2024 was re-issued with the original text by Galilee Road Publishing. In 2023, Peace in the Storm... was granted the nihil obstat and imprimatur by Most Reverend Frank Caggiano, Bishop of Bridgeport. Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness is the only devotional on chronic pain and illness to hold these ecclesial designations. Theologically sound and prayer, Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness, contains 110 meditations (scripture verse, reflection, and prayer) on practical themes connected with ongoing chronic pain and illness. Inspirational and encouraging, the devotional is beloved by individuals seeking greater spiritual resilience in their journey of suffering and is a valuable resource for many faith-based chronic pain and illness spiritual support groups in churches nationwide.
Meet the Author and Founder
Maureen Pratt, MTS, MFA, is a nationally recognized, award-winning, Catholic expert on the places where faith and spirituality meet disabiity, chronic illness and pain, and aging and caregiving. For more than 20 years she has authored books, delivered inspiring workshops, retreats and talks, and worked with patient organizations, faith-based ministries, and healthcare institutions to encourage, inspire, and increase the awareness of and need for theological and spiritual resources to work alongside other aspects of "whole patient care." Maureen holds a Master of Theological Studies degree from the Jesuit School of Theology at Santa Clara University, a Master of Fine Arts from UCLA, and a Bachelor of Science in Languages degree from Georgetown University. She also lives with multiple chronic illnesses, including lupus, and so writes from personal, as well as theological perspectives.