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Brother Lawrence
Brother Lawrence (c. 1614–1691). Born Nicolas Herman around 1614 in Hériménil, Lorraine, France, to a peasant family, Brother Lawrence became a Carmelite monk and lay brother renowned for his practice of God’s presence. Wounded as a soldier in the Thirty Years’ War and later serving as a footman, he experienced a spiritual awakening at 18 upon seeing a barren tree, reflecting on God’s renewing power. Entering the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris around 1640, he took the name Lawrence of the Resurrection and worked humbly in the kitchen and as a sandal repairer. Despite no formal education, his simple faith and constant communion with God drew many to seek his counsel. His teachings, recorded by others, notably Abbé Joseph de Beaufort, were compiled posthumously in The Practice of the Presence of God, a collection of letters and conversations emphasizing continual prayer in daily tasks. Lawrence’s life exemplified joy in mundane duties, influencing spiritual thinkers across centuries. Unmarried, he remained in the monastery until his death on February 12, 1691, in Paris. He said, “We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”
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Brother Lawrence encourages full and complete confidence in God for both body and soul, emphasizing that our sufferings are evidence of God's love towards us. He advises to abandon reliance on human remedies and fully surrender to God's providence, suggesting that perfect trust in Him may bring about healing. Brother Lawrence reminds that God sometimes allows physical ailments to heal the soul, urging to ask for strength to endure pain for the love of God and to find joy and courage in suffering for His sake.
Thirteenth Letter
To the same he exhorts for fuller and entire confidence in God, for body and soul. I AM in pain to see you suffer so long; what gives me some ease, and sweetens the feeling I have of your griefs, is that they are proofs of GOD’s love towards you: see them in that view, and you will bear them more easily. As your case is, ’tis my opinion that you should leave off human remedies, and resign yourself entirely to the providence of GOD; perhaps He stays only for that resignation and a perfect trust in Him to cure you. Since notwithstanding all your cares, physic has hitherto proved unsuccessful, and your malady still increases, it will not be tempting GOD to abandon yourself in His hands, and expect all from Him. I told you, in my last, that He sometimes permits bodily diseases to cure the distempers of the soul. Have courage then: make a virtue of necessity: ask of GOD, not deliverance from your pains, but strength to bear resolutely, for the love of Him, all that He should please, and as long as He shall please. Such prayers, indeed, are a little hard to nature, but most acceptable to GOD, and sweet to those that love Him. Love sweetens pains; and when one loves GOD, one suffers for His sake with joy and courage. Do you so, I beseech you; comfort yourself with Him, who is the only Physician of all our maladies. He is the FATHER of the afflicted, always ready to help us. He loves us infinitely more than we imagine: love Him then, and seek not consolation elsewhere: I hope you will soon receive it. Adieu. I will help you with my prayers, poor as they are, and shall be, always, yours in our LORD.
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Brother Lawrence (c. 1614–1691). Born Nicolas Herman around 1614 in Hériménil, Lorraine, France, to a peasant family, Brother Lawrence became a Carmelite monk and lay brother renowned for his practice of God’s presence. Wounded as a soldier in the Thirty Years’ War and later serving as a footman, he experienced a spiritual awakening at 18 upon seeing a barren tree, reflecting on God’s renewing power. Entering the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris around 1640, he took the name Lawrence of the Resurrection and worked humbly in the kitchen and as a sandal repairer. Despite no formal education, his simple faith and constant communion with God drew many to seek his counsel. His teachings, recorded by others, notably Abbé Joseph de Beaufort, were compiled posthumously in The Practice of the Presence of God, a collection of letters and conversations emphasizing continual prayer in daily tasks. Lawrence’s life exemplified joy in mundane duties, influencing spiritual thinkers across centuries. Unmarried, he remained in the monastery until his death on February 12, 1691, in Paris. He said, “We ought not to be weary of doing little things for the love of God, who regards not the greatness of the work, but the love with which it is performed.”