Faith and the Journey of Chronic Pain and Illness
Maureen Pratt
Monday, January 22
7:00 pm, Serra Center

Where is God when we suffer? Did I do something wrong to become so ill? Why doesn’t God cure me? Is there a point to the pain?

Navigating life with chronic pain or illness can be very difficult and weigh down the body, mind, and spirit. We are not alone on our journey: More than half of the adults in the United States, including Catholics, live with chronic health conditions such as cancer, diabetes, heart disease, autoimmune conditions, and ongoing pain. These challenges often require diligent medical care and lifestyle modifications, can strain finances and families, and even prompt questions of faith at a time when we need God more than ever.

How do we keep ourselves close to God when we suffer? What is the purpose of our pain?

In this presentation, award-winning Catholic author and theologian Maureen Pratt will offer scriptural, pastoral, and prayerful reflections on some of the most profound questions Catholics ask about suffering, including common misperceptions that can prevent spiritual growth in trust and faith. She will also give examples of how individuals and faith fellowship groups can constructively and compassionately support one another and the work of the Holy Spirit, inviting greater openness to God’s amazing grace, no matter how long or hard the journey might become.​

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About Maureen
​Author and theologian Maureen Pratt has lived with serious, sometimes disabling chronic illness, including lupus and heart disease and pain, for more than 20 years. She also has studied and lived her Catholic faith through the prism of these ongoing challenges, earning a Master of Theological Studies from the Jesuit School of Theology, focusing on sacred scripture, moral theology (especially medical ethics), and the long tradition of Catholic caregiving. Her devotional, Peace in the Storm: Meditations on Chronic Pain and Illness (Image/Penguin Random House), and book, Beyond Pain: Job, Jesus, and Joy Revised Edition (Galilee Road Publishing) are the basis for a new model of parish accompaniment for people with chronic pain and illness called “The Peace in the Storm Project.” Her website is www.maureenpratt.com