The Practice of the Presence of God

Adoration is “the act of religion by which God is recognized as alone worthy of supreme honor” (Hardon, John A. Pocket Catholic Dictionary. Doubleday, 1985). This idea is closely related to Brother Lawrence’s teachings about the need to recognize God’s imminence, expressing itself in worshipful awe as well as familiar communication with God.

A member of the Carmelite Roman Catholic religious order, formally known as the Order of Our Lady of Mount Carmel, founded in Palestine during the Middle Ages. Carmelites are known equally for their emphasis on contemplation and on missionary activity. The Carmelite order produced two famous 16th-century mystics: St. Theresa of Avila, and St. John of the Cross. Brother Lawrence joined the Carmelites as a lay brother after discovering his religious vocation and eventually became a noted figure in Christian mysticism.

Divine favor or aid to human beings, understood as unmerited and flowing from God’s loving nature. Grace plays a role in the text as part of the force of the divine presence that initiates communion between God and the individual. As a result of God’s grace, the individual experiences inner peace and relief from suffering and the burdens of life. In particular, God’s grace is expressed as forgiveness of one’s sins, which allows the individual to find peace in their soul.