The Practice of the Presence of God

For Brother Lawrence, awareness of God’s presence is both achieved and expressed through the habit of constant prayer. He characterizes this practice in various ways, such as: “finding constant pleasure in His divine company” and “speaking humbly and lovingly with Him in all seasons, at every moment, without limiting the conversation in any way” (60). He maintained that prayer time should not be distinguished from non-prayer time; prayer can and should happen anytime, including while people are working. In this way, all of life becomes sanctified, an important goal for Lawrence and Catholic Reformation spirituality. Nor does prayer have to be prescribed or memorized; Lawrence encourages spontaneous prayers from the heart as the best kind because they express sincere faith.

Considered as a process, prayer for Lawrence begins with an awareness of God’s greatness and goodness, leading to love for Him. This love then gives rise to faith, trust, and surrender to God’s will, expressed in a desire to be in communion with Him always. The habit of constant prayer leads to strengthened faith, hope, and love—the “theological virtues” that are the sign of holiness. The dominant factor in the spiritual life for Lawrence is love rather than fear, guilt, or a desire to receive benefits from God.