The Practice of The Presence of God (Translated‪)‬

The Practice of the Presence of God is the enduring Christian spiritual classic by Brother Lawrence, the 17th-century Carmelite lay brother whose simple approach to prayer teaches Christians how to experience God's presence in everyday life. This modern English edition, translated by Catholic author and theologian Edward P. Martin, presents Brother Lawrence's wisdom in clear, accessible language for contemporary readers.

The classic has received renewed attention after Pope Leo XIV identified The Practice of the Presence of God as a book that profoundly influenced his spirituality. Its message of prayer, surrender, trust in God, and finding the Lord amid ordinary responsibilities offers a revealing window into a spirituality that helped shape the first American pope.

What did Brother Lawrence discover that could speak so powerfully across centuries—and influence the spiritual life of Pope Leo XIV?

Born Nicolas Herman, Brother Lawrence experienced war, hardship, physical suffering, and years of searching before entering a Carmelite monastery in Paris as a lay brother. There, amid the ordinary work of cooking, cleaning, and serving his community, he discovered a remarkably simple way of living with God.

He learned that prayer does not have to end when ordinary life begins.

Brother Lawrence sought to remain aware of God's presence while working in the kitchen, completing mundane tasks, speaking with others, and facing difficulties. Gradually, ordinary life became an ongoing conversation with God.

For modern Christians surrounded by constant notifications, crowded schedules, anxiety, and distraction, his message feels remarkably contemporary. Finding God does not require escaping ordinary life. The workplace, commute, classroom, kitchen, hospital room, and quiet moments at home can all become places of encounter with Him.

In this Christian spiritual classic, readers will discover how to:

• Practice the presence of God in everyday life by turning ordinary activities into opportunities for prayer and loving attention to God.

• Bring prayer into work and daily responsibilities rather than separating spiritual life from the rest of the day.

• Develop greater trust and surrender when circumstances cannot be controlled.

• Find peace amid distraction and difficulty through a simple awareness of God's presence.

• Grow in friendship with God through small, repeated acts of love rather than complicated spiritual techniques.

Brother Lawrence's spirituality is not an invitation to escape responsibility. It is an invitation to perform ordinary duties faithfully while remaining inwardly turned toward God.

More than three centuries after his death, his insight remains strikingly simple:

You do not have to leave ordinary life to find God. You can learn to meet Him in the middle of it.

Rediscover Brother Lawrence's timeless Christian classic in this accessible modern English translation by Edward P. Martin—and discover why The Practice of the Presence of God continues to inspire Christians today, including Pope Leo XIV.