The Practice of the Presence of God: Complete text with Illustrations

The most faithful version of Brother Lawrence’s classic text.

This edition includes:
– 26 hand-drawn illustrations
– The controversial Sixth Letter (censored by most publishers)
– The unabridged Conversations
– Lawrence’s complete set of Spiritual Maxims
– His biography, first published in French in 1694

Finally, to supplement the original source documents, this edition includes a new timeline of the major events in Brother Lawrence’s life. This timeline integrates events mentioned in the Conversations, Letters, and other documents into a single brief narrative.

Brother Lawrence came from a humble family. As a monk, he worked with his hands: first in the kitchen and later repairing sandals. He was not a priest or theologian. He didn’t preach or serve communion. After his death, he was not formally recognized as a saint. And yet, a steady stream of priests, nuns, and laypeople sought his advice on the spiritual life.

“For me the time of action does not differ from the time of prayer, and in the noise and clatter of my kitchen, I possess God in as great tranquility as when upon my knees at the blessed sacrament.” – Brother Lawrence