--- title: Need Peace? Try This Spiritual Action Plan description: If you long for peace, Maria V. Gallagher has a spiritual action plan for you. image: https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/need-peace-f.jpg --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2018/08/02/need-peace-try-this-spiritual-action-plan/#) # Need Peace? Try This Spiritual Action Plan Aug 2, 2018 11:00:58 AM  |  by [Maria V. Gallagher](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/maria-v-gallagher) ![featured image](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/need-peace-f.jpg) [!["Need peace?" by Maria V. Gallagher (CatholicMom.com)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/need-peace.jpg)](http://catholicmom.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/need-peace.jpg) Photo by Ben White (2018) via [Unsplash.com](https://unsplash.com/photos/ReEqHw2GyeI), CC0 Public Domain[/caption] Worry used to be my middle name. I went through life terribly anxious about school, then work, then family concerns. No matter how much my mother tried to calm me down, I continually swam in a sea of worry. Then a family trauma rocked my world. The shock was so significant I knew I could not revert to my old worry-wart ways. I had to do something different — for my family’s sake, for my own sake, and for the sake of my motherhood. I developed a plan to cope with the trauma — a plan which I have found has helped other women who are encountering heavy crosses in their lives. Call it **“A Spiritual Action Plan.”** **Step One: I placed my beloved family in God’s hands. **I know that my Father in heaven is the ultimate parent who cares tenderly for all of his children. I relied on the comfort of daily prayer to deal with the day-to-day uncertainty that characterized my world. **Step Two: I walked with Jesus through the valley of pain. **I was grieving the fact that a heavy cross had befallen my family. This resulted in an emotional pain that was at times unspeakable. In order to cope, I relied on the steady hand of Jesus to pull me through. **Step Three: I prayed for my family’s intentions. **Part of my particular cross was the emotional pain my only daughter was experiencing. I decided to pray each day at 3 PM, the Hour of Mercy, for all of her intentions. This gave me a degree of comfort and peace I had never experienced before. **Step Four: I relied on the strength of my prayer group. **My Cursillo prayer group was of great value in praying for my daughter and me. They also provided words of sweet comfort when all seemed lost. Following this formula, miraculously, I have managed to survive and even thrive in the midst of family trauma.  I long for the day when our healing will be complete. In the meantime, I wait with expectation for the miracles that God will deliver to our lives. --- *Copyright 2018 Maria V. Gallagher* ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F08%2F02%2Fneed-peace-try-this-spiritual-action-plan%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F08%2F02%2Fneed-peace-try-this-spiritual-action-plan%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F08%2F02%2Fneed-peace-try-this-spiritual-action-plan%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Need%20Peace%3F%20Try%20This%20Spiritual%20Action%20Plan) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F08%2F02%2Fneed-peace-try-this-spiritual-action-plan%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2018%2F08%2F02%2Fneed-peace-try-this-spiritual-action-plan%2F%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Maria V. Gallagher](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/Contriubutors/MARIA%20V.%20GALLAGHER.jpeg) ### [Maria V. Gallagher](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/maria-v-gallagher) Maria V. Gallagher spends her days advocating for women, children, and families. She is the mother of a beautiful ballerina and a member of the worldwide Cursillo movement. In her spare time, Maria likes to blog, walk, sing, dance, and fill the room with laughter. Read her work at [MariaVGallagher.com](http://mariavgallagher.com). [**](http://twitter.com/mariaevitale) ## Related Blog Articles [ Mystical Experiences at the Drive-Thru Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/07/03/mystical-experiences-at-the-drive-thru/) [ Book Notes: Make Every Day Blessed Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/book-notes-make-every-day-blessed) [ The Forgetful Woman's Guide to Finding Christ Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2019/10/03/the-forgetful-womans-guide-to-finding-christ/) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! 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