Customer Reviews

The Practice of the Presence of God

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The 1982 publication by Whitaker House is not very good at all. It is a loose paraphrase. In the words of the publisher's preface: "In this abridged edition, we have sought to update and clarify the language of this Christian classic, paraphrasing where necessary, while keeping the essence of the message intact." It goes way overboard. It excises several passages, some of which are distinctly Catholic:

A) mention of praying at set times throughout the day (in his Carmelite monastery) in Conversation #2
B) a reference to receiving absolution through a confessor in Conversation #2
C) references in Conversation #2 to acts of mortification are corrupted; Br. Lawrence spoke of "bodily mortifications" as "useless, except as they serve to arrive at the union with God by love" and that "all possible kinds of mortification, if they were void of the love of God, could not efface a single sin." (pp. 21-22) The Whitaker version renders these two separate clauses as one, "that all possible good works or self-abasing acts of contrition we could possibly do would not erase a single sin." (p. 18)
D) a quote from Br. Lawrence at the end of Conversation #4 in which he mentions kneeling in the presence of the Blessed Sacrament

It also re-orders his 15 letters, damaging them in the process:

A) Whitaker's Letter #6 appears to be completely fabricated
B) Br. Lawrence's 11th and 13th letters are missing completely, probably because they praise the salvific quality of suffering and bearing suffering joyfully
C) Br. Lawrence's 14th and 15th letters are merged into one, retaining only the first sentence of letter #14

The edition published by Spire is far better.

This is a great book, with practical application for the spiritual practice of all Christians of any denomination. This edition, however, is heavily abridged, cutting the much larger original down to about 95 pages.

As a "follower of Christ" (Christian) who considers himself an Evangelical Protestant, this little devotional book will hold a special place in my library and my heart. For all Christian believers, the richness and power of Brother Lawrence's life's witness and words are a fountain of Truth, a treasure that is as elegant (spiritually) as it is simple. For the non-believers, I am afraid that reading this booklet (a spiritual treasure in disguise) will just confirm St. Paul the Apostles's words that "the message of the cross is ... foolishness to the Gentiles" (1 Corinthians. 1:18, 23 and 2:14).

The only way to do justice to this booklet is to quote from it and let you get a taste of it ...

This is a unique biography because it is not compiled by the Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection (birth name Nicholas Herman but known by his monastic name) but by the ones around his life in 17th century France. Thus one learns very little about the beginnings of his life but very much about his godly lifestyle in the last 30 years of life of bliss (presence of God in his heart) and suffering (3 physical and debilitating ailments).

We learn about this Spirit-filled vessel in God's vineyard - Brother Lawrence, by reading the Eulogy of the abbot of Lawrence's Christian community, 4 short notes of his conversations with his spiritual father - Abb? de Beaufort, 16 very short letters of spiritual advice and encouragement Brother Lawrence wrote to friends and seekers, a manuscript found at his death called "Spiritual Maxims" and a memoir of a leader in the church in France.

The followings are a selection of the many highlights and underlined phrases and sentences from this book:

"Busy yourself with keeping your mind in the presence of the Lord."

"My most normal habit is to simply keep my attention on God, and to be generally and lovingly aware of Him."

"I occupy myself solely with keeping my attention on God and by being generally and lovingly aware of Him."

"We have an infinitely good God who knows what we need."

"Console yourself with the One who keeps you fastened to the cross."

"We should love our friends, but without prejudicing the love of God which must be first."

"Think often about Him; worship Him without ceasing. Life and die with Him. This is the beautiful call in the life of a Christian."

"...we should love one another through our words of counsel and even more through our good examples."

"...our only business in this life is to please God. ... my little progress in the path of perfection."

"I applied myself to practicing the presence of God ... Doing this gave me such a high esteem for God that faith alone was capable of satisfying me."

"A devout woman told me that the spiritual life is a life of grace that begins with service fear, increases through the hope of eternal life, and is consumated by pure love."

MY PRAYER: May we all experience God's love, which truly can consume all other passions, and be filled with His grace which will empower us to truly love our neighbors (Christian and non-Christian) as ourselves. This is my life goal !

This little book packs a wallop. It contains a simple but powerful message: to live in contact with God, one need only hold Him in mind, or carry on a mental conversation with Him. The reason why Brother Lawrence's book is so transforming is that one can feel that he practiced what he preached. As he describes the process of practicing the presence, the reader is drawn into the gossamer web of the author's own experience. To begin this practice, all we have to do is read this book. We are given a boost at the beginning; the rest is up to us. Take this book on retreat, or pick it up whenever you are feeling spiritually dry. It will open your heart and nurture your soul.

Richard Salva--author of Soul Journey from Lincoln to Lindbergh [UNABRIDGED]

Brother Lawrence (aka Nicholas Herman) was a layman with a Catholic order of monks who experienced the true joy of serving God in the most simple everyday tasks. Thankfully because of his dear friend, Joseph de Beaufort, Practicing the Presence of God came into print.

The booklet consists mainly of Brother Lawrence's reply to several letters written to him soliciting advice on how to handle various issues. Brother Lawrence's consistent and central response to the writer was to make the presence of God the priority in that person's life and to realize God's love for us. Brother Lawrence consistently stated that the way to do this was to remember daily of God's grace for us and His presence in our lives even during the routine and mundane daily activities of life.

The booklet is divided into 3 main areas:

1. Brother Lawrence's response to letters he had received.
2. Spiritual maxims to live by.
3. A short biography of Brother Lawrence's life.

While the booklet is short (around 90 pages or so) and can easily be read in one sitting, there is a ton of wisdom and reminders to keep God Almighty THE priority in our lives.

Read and enjoy. Highly recommended!

This book is an excellent, easy-to-read and thought provoking work. The words are those of Brother Lawrence, a simple Carmelite who --through conversations and letters to a friend--tells about his spiritual journey and how he learned to practice the presence of God. It is a classic, yet is small (less than 100 pages) and pocket sized so that you can read it anywhere and anytime. I think I will take it with me on my next flight and read it all over again. A real joy.

This is one of my favorite spiritual books. I love Brother Lawrence.

I always picture him enraptured, laying cruciform before the oven on the floor of his kitchen, slain by the mystery of the baking bread.. (Taste and see the LORD is good..) It's an arbitrary image, but I feel it catches what he was like. Blessed Sweetness, everywhere found, in my heart dwell most profound!

He exemplifies for me what it means to be a Christian. A couple of quotes:

"..In difficulties one had only to turn to Jesus Christ and ask for his grace, after which all became easy.."

"He gave thought neither of death, nor his sins, nor Paradise nor Hell, but only to do small things for the love of God. Great things he had not in him the power to do. That done, there would come upon him only what God should will. And of that he had no concern... Thus he was concerned about nothing, feared nothing, and asked nothing save that he not offend God.."

This is the wisdom of Carmel. Brother Lawrence springs from this same tradition that earlier had given the Church St. Simon Stock, St. Theresa of Avila and St. John of the Cross; and was to later produce St. Therese of Lisieux, the Little Flower. This is the flaming heart of Christian spirituality, in its searing purity.

Each moment is another opportunity to surrender your heart to God. The Holy Spirit is ever about and within us, and time is simply the unfolding of His grace.

As my second favorite Jesuit, Fr. G. M. Hopkins, once wrote: "The world is charged with the Grandeur of God: it shines out like shining from shook foil, it gathers to a greatness like the ooze of oil crushed.."

This book is yet another manifesto reminding us that it is God in whom we live & move and have our being. He is intimately with us always, unto all time. Peace, then. Cultivate awareness of His presence. You cannot be harmed. Neither death nor sin can separate us from the love of God. Only our eternal refusal to seek His mercy & embrace Him can do that.

Also check out anything by Fr. Jean Caussade SJ or St. Therese of the Child Jesus, the above mentioned Little Flower. The French really had it going on back then. Pray that la premiere fille de l'Eglise may once again regain her splendor.

Frere Laurent prie pour nous.
Father Elijah, transfigured with the Lord, intercede for us.
All the saints of Carmel, pray for us.
Our Lady of Mount Carmel, bless us.

The ideas in this book have fueled my relationship with God for 30 years. I buy extras and give them to men I disciple at an appropriate time in our relationship.

After reading Reviews of CBC, Manuel, Michael, Peter and nearby Mariettian, Donald K. I doubted I could pull any better review! But since I have just reviewed three all-time best Devotionals: From Donald Baillie, Mary Tileston, St. Thomas A Kempis, I need to add my 17 "sense" worth.

Since taking an EMORY Class focused on reading Spiritual writing taught by my greatly deepened Seminary Classmate, Glenn Hinson, I feed often in pages of The Practice of the Presence of God.

My wife, Barbara keeps her copy nearby the bed and I keep mine in my favorite "little morning reading room!" The underlining of mine begins on page 34 and skips around a good bit for 4 pages:
"Brother Lawrence confessed his praying was nothing but a sense of the Presence of God, his soul being uaware of everything but God's Love... "The whole substance of religion is faith, hope, love. The practice of these three is the way we become united to God's will..."All things are possible to him who believes; they are less difficult to him who hopes; they are still easier to him who loves; they are even easier to him who practices all three virtues."

Those few plus more strengthened me through seven years as Prison Chaplain. Devotedly, Retired Chaplain Fred W Hood "Barbara377" (Fayetteville, GA United States)

This book captures the life-altering way that Brother Lawrence approached intimacy with God. A must read for someone looking to experience God in a very personal, daily, and all-encompassing way. It's one of those books I read again every year.