The Practice of the Presence of God

The Practice of the Presence of God

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Title: The Practice of the Presence of God
Author: Brother Lawrence, edited by Lightheart
Release Date: May, 2004 [EBook #5657] [Yes, we are more than one year ahead of
schedule] [Most recently updated October 5, 2002]
Edition: 10
Language: English
Character set encoding: ASCII
*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK, THE PRACTICE OF THE
PRESENCE OF GOD ***

Copyright (C) 2002 by Lightheart.
Brother Lawrence's THE PRACTICE OF THE PRESENCE OF GOD 2002 Edition
edited by Lightheart at PracticeGodsPresence.com
Includes: Editor's Preface Conversations and Letters

Editor's Preface
Brother Lawrence was born Nicholas Herman around 1610 in Herimenil, Lorraine, a
Duchy of France. His birth records were destroyed in a fire at his parish church during
the Thirty Years War, a war in which he fought as a young soldier. It was also the war in
which he sustained a near fatal injury to his sciatic nerve. The injury left him quite
crippled and in chronic pain for the rest of his life.
The details of his early life are few and sketchy. However, we know he was educated
both at home and by his parish priest whose first name was Lawrence and who was
greatly admired by the young Nicolas. He was well read and, from an early age, drawn to
a spiritual life of faith and love for God.
We also know that in the years between the abrupt end of his duties as a soldier and his
entry into monastic life, he spent a period of time in the wilderness living like one of the
early desert fathers. Also, prior to entering the monastery, and perhaps as preparation, he
spent time as a civil servant. In his characteristic, self deprecating way, he mentions that
he was a "footman who was clumsy and broke everything".
At mid-life he entered a newly established monastery in Paris where he became the cook
for the community which grew to over one hundred members. After fifteen years, his
duties were shifted to the sandal repair shop but, even then, he often returned to the busy
kitchen to help out.
In times as troubled as today, Brother Lawrence, discovered, then followed, a pure and
uncomplicated way to walk continually in God's presence. For some forty years, he lived
and walked with Our Father at his side. Yet, through his own words, we learn that
Brother Lawrence's first ten years were full of severe trials and challenges.
A gentle man of joyful spirit, Brother Lawrence shunned attention and the limelight,
knowing that outside distraction "spoils all". It was not until after his death that a few of
his letters were collected. Joseph de Beaufort, representative and counsel to the local
archbishop, first published the letters in a small pamphlet. The following year, in a
second publication which he titled, 'The Practice of the Presence of God', de Beaufort
included, as introductory material, the content of four conversations he had with Brother
Lawrence.
In this small book, through letters and conversations, Brother Lawrence simply and
beautifully explains how to continually walk with God - not from the head but from the
heart. Brother Lawrence left the gift of a way of life available to anyone who seeks to
know God's peace and presence; that anyone, regardless of age or circumstance, can
practice -anywhere, anytime. Brother Lawrence also left the gift of a direct approach to
living in God's presence that is as practical today as it was three hundred years ago.
Brother Lawrence died in 1691, having practiced God's presence for over forty years. His
quiet death was much like his monastic life where each day and each hour was a new
beginning and a fresh commitment to love God with all his heart.
Edited by Lightheart at PracticeGodsPresence.com October 2002
CONVERSATIONS
Introduction: At the time of de Beaufort's