The practice of the presence of god by Brother Lawrence—born Nicolas Herman (c. 1614–1691)—was a Carmelite lay brother in Paris. His little collection of letters and conversations became one of the most read handbooks of practical Christian mysticism. The teaching is simple and radical: keep continual company with God in the middle of ordinary work. No special place is required. No elaborate techniques. “We can make our heart a chapel,” he says, “where we can withdraw from time to time to converse with Him.”
This edition gathers the short spiritual maxims, selected letters, and Abbe de Beaufort’s conversations with Brother Lawrence. The topics repeat by design: how to return to God after distraction, how to pray without ceasing, how to work, cook, wash dishes, and serve others without losing interior recollection. Readers meet a believer who learned contentment through years in a monastery kitchen and who insists that love—not strain—sustains prayer.
The text has circulated freely since the 17th century and entered the public domain long ago. For HolyBooks readers it sits well beside contemplative classics from the Desert Fathers to Thomas à Kempis: concise, practical, and rooted in Scripture. Use it devotionally, a few paragraphs at a time, or read straight through in an hour. The core invitation is constant: turn the heart toward God in every task and keep returning when you forget. Download the book here:
Full audio book here:
