The Practice of the Presence of God
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Brother Lawrence, edited by Lightheart >> The Practice of the Presence of God
Sometimes I considered myself before Him as a poor criminal at the feet
of his judge. At other times I beheld Him in my heart as my Father, as my
God. I worshipped Him the oftenest I could, keeping my mind in His holy
presence and recalling it as often as I found it wandered from Him. I
made this my business, not only at the appointed times of prayer but
all the time; every hour, every minute, even in the height of my work,
I drove from my mind everything that interrupted my thoughts of God.
I found no small pain in this exercise. Yet I continued it,
notwithstanding all the difficulties that occurred. And I tried not to
trouble or disquiet myself when my mind wandered. Such has been my common
practice ever since I entered religious life. Though I have done it very
imperfectly, I have found great advantages by it. These, I well know,
are to be imputed to the mercy and goodness of God because we can do
nothing without Him; and I still less than any.
When we are faithful to keep ourselves in His holy presence, and set Him
always before us, this hinders our offending Him, and doing anything that
may displease Him. It also begets in us a holy freedom, and, if I may so
speak, a familiarity with God, where, when we ask, He supplies the graces
we need. Over time, by often repeating these acts, they become habitual,
and the presence of God becomes quite natural to us.
Please give Him thanks with me, for His great goodness towards me,
which I can never sufficiently express, and for the many favors He has
done to so miserable a sinner as I am. May all things praise Him. Amen.
Second Letter: Not finding my manner of life described in books, although
I have no problem with that, yet, for reassurance, I would appreciate
your thoughts about it.
In conversation some days ago a devout person told me the spiritual life
was a life of grace, which begins with servile fear, which is increased
by hope of eternal life, and which is consummated by pure love; that
each of these states had its different steps, by which one arrives at
last at that blessed consummation.
I have not followed these methods at all. On the contrary, I
instinctively felt they would discourage me. Instead, at my entrance
into religious life, I took a resolution to give myself up to God as
the best satisfaction I could make for my sins and, for the love of Him,
to renounce all besides.
For the first years, I commonly employed myself during the time set
apart for devotion with thoughts of death, judgment, hell, heaven, and
my sins. Thus I continued some years applying my mind carefully the rest
of the day, and even in the midst of my work, to the presence of God,
whom I considered always as with me, often as in my heart.
At length I began to do the same thing during my set time of prayer,
which gave me joy and consolation. This practice produced in me so high
an esteem for God that faith alone was enough to assure me.
Such was my beginning. Yet I must tell you that for the first ten years
I suffered a great deal. During this time I fell often, and rose again
presently. It seemed to me that all creatures, reason, and God Himself
were against me and faith alone for me.
The apprehension that I was not devoted to God as I wished to be, my past
sins always present to my mind, and the great unmerited favors which God
did me, were the source of my sufferings and feelings of unworthiness. I
was sometimes troubled with thoughts that to believe I had received such
favors was an effect of my imagination, which pretended to be so soon
where others arrived with great difficulty. At other times I believed
that it was a willful delusion and that there really was no hope for me.
Finally, I considered the prospect of spending the rest of my days in
these troubles. I discovered this did not diminish the trust I had in God
at all. In fact, it only served to increase my faith. It then seemed that,
all at once, I found myself changed. My soul, which, until that time was
in trouble, felt a profound inward peace, as if she were in her center
and place of rest.
Ever since that time I walk before God simply, in faith, with humility,
and with love. I apply myself diligently to do nothing and think nothing
which may displease Him. I hope that when I have done what I can, He
will do with me what He pleases.
As for what passes in me at present, I cannot express it. I have no pain
or difficulty about my state because I have no will but that of God. I
endeavor to accomplish His will in all things. And I am so resigned that
I would not take up a straw from the ground against His order or from
any motive but that of pure love for Him.
I have ceased all forms of devotion and set prayers except those to
which my state requires. I make it my priority to persevere in His holy
presence, wherein I maintain a simple attention and a fond regard for
God, which I may call an actual presence of God. Or, to put it another
way, it is an habitual, silent, and private conversation of the soul
with God. This gives me much joy and contentment. In short, I am sure,
beyond all doubt, that my soul has been with God above these past thirty
years. I pass over many things that I may not be tedious to you.
Yet, I think it is appropriate to tell you how I perceive myself before
God, whom I behold as my King. I consider myself as the most wretched
of men. I am full of faults, flaws, and weaknesses, and have committed
all sorts of crimes against his King. Touched with a sensible regret
I confess all my wickedness to Him. I ask His forgiveness. I abandon
myself in His hands that He may do what He pleases with me.
My King is full of mercy and goodness. Far from chastising me, He embraces
me with love. He makes me eat at His table. He serves me with His own
hands and gives me the key to His treasures. He converses and delights
Himself with me incessantly, in a thousand and a thousand ways. And He
treats me in all respects as His favorite. In this way I consider myself
continually in His holy presence.
My most usual method is this simple attention, an affectionate regard
for God to whom I find myself often attached with greater sweetness
and delight than that of an infant at the mother's breast. To choose
an expression, I would call this state the bosom of God, for the
inexpressible sweetness which I taste and experience there. If, at
any time, my thoughts wander from it from necessity or infirmity,
I am presently recalled by inward emotions so charming and delicious
that I cannot find words to describe them. Please reflect on my great
wretchedness, of which you are fully informed, rather than on the great
favors God does one as unworthy and ungrateful as I am.
As for my set hours of prayer, they are simply a continuation of the same
exercise. Sometimes I consider myself as a stone before a carver, whereof
He is to make a statue. Presenting myself thus before God, I desire Him to
make His perfect image in my soul and render me entirely like Himself. At
other times, when I apply myself to prayer, I feel all my spirit lifted
up without any care or effort on my part. This often continues as if it
was suspended yet firmly fixed in God like a center or place of rest.
I know that some charge this state with inactivity, delusion, and
self-love. I confess that it is a holy inactivity. And it would be a happy
self-love if the soul, in that state, were capable of it. But while the
soul is in this repose, she cannot be disturbed by the kinds of things
to which she was formerly accustomed. The things that the soul used to
depend on would now hinder rather than assist her.
Yet, I cannot see how this could be called imagination or delusion because
the soul which enjoys God in this way wants nothing but Him. If this is
delusion, then only God can remedy it. Let Him do what He pleases with
me. I desire only Him and to be wholly devoted to Him.
Please send me your opinion as I greatly value and have a singular esteem
for your reverence, and am yours.
Third Letter: We have a God who is infinitely gracious and knows all our
wants. I always thought that He would reduce you to extremity. He will
come in His own time, and when you least expect it. Hope in Him more
than ever. Thank Him with me for the favors He does you, particularly
for the fortitude and patience which He gives you in your afflictions. It
is a plain mark of the care He takes of you. Comfort yourself with Him,
and give thanks for all.
I admire also the fortitude and bravery of M--. God has given him a good
disposition and a good will; but he is still a little worldly and somewhat
immature. I hope the affliction God has sent him will help him do some
reflection and inner searching and that it may prove to be a wholesome
remedy to him. It is a chance for him to put all his trust in God who
accompanies him everywhere. Let him think of Him as much as he can,
especially in time of great danger.
A little lifting up of the heart and a remembrance of God suffices. One
act of inward worship, though upon a march with sword in hand, are prayers
which, however short, are nevertheless very acceptable to God. And, far
from lessening a soldier's courage in occasions of danger, they actually
serve to fortify it. Let him think of God as often as possible. Let
him accustom himself, by degrees, to this small but holy exercise. No
one sees it, and nothing is easier than to repeat these little internal
adorations all through the day.
Please recommend to him that he think of God the most he can in this
way. It is very fit and most necessary for a soldier, who is daily faced
with danger to his life, and often to his very salvation.
I hope that God will assist him and all the family, to whom I present
my service, being theirs and yours.
Fourth Letter: I am taking this opportunity to tell you about the
sentiments of one of our society concerning the admirable effects and
continual assistance he receives from the presence of God. May we both
profit by them.
For the past forty years his continual care has been to be always
with God; and to do nothing, say nothing, and think nothing which may
displease Him. He does this without any view or motive except pure love
of Him and because God deserves infinitely more.
He is now so accustomed to that Divine presence that he receives from it
continual comfort and peace. For about thirty years his soul has been
filled with joy and delight so continual, and sometimes so great, that
he is forced to find ways to hide their appearing outwardly to others
who may not understand.
If sometimes he becomes a little distracted from that Divine presence,
God gently recalls Himself by a stirring in his soul. This often happens
when he is most engaged in his outward chores and tasks. He answers with
exact fidelity to these inward drawings, either by an elevation of his
heart towards God, or by a meek and fond regard to Him, or by such words
as love forms upon these occasions. For instance, he may say, "My God,
here I am all devoted to You," or "Lord, make me according to Your heart."
It seems to him (in fact, he feels it) that this God of love, satisfied
with such few words, reposes again and rests in the depth and center
of his soul. The experience of these things gives him such certainty
that God is always in the innermost part of his soul that he is beyond
doubting it under any circumstances.
Judge by this what content and satisfaction he enjoys. While he
continually finds within himself so great a treasure, he no longer has
any need to search for it. He no longer has any anxiety about finding
it because he now has his beautiful treasure open before him and may
take what he pleases of it.
He often points out our blindness and exclaims that those who content
themselves with so little are to be pitied. God, says he, has infinite
treasure to bestow, and we take so little through routine devotion which
lasts but a moment. Blind as we are, we hinder God, and stop the current
of His graces. But when He finds a soul penetrated with a lively faith,
He pours into it His graces and favors plentifully. There they flow like
a torrent, which, after being forcibly stopped against its ordinary
course, when it has found a passage, spreads itself with impetuosity
and abundance.
Yet we often stop this torrent by the little value we set upon it. Let us
stop it no more. Let us enter into ourselves and break down the bank which
hinders it. Let us make way for grace. Let us redeem the lost time, for
perhaps we have but little left. Death follows us close so let us be well
prepared for it. We die but once and a mistake there is irretrievable.
I say again, let us enter into ourselves. The time presses. There is
no room for delay. Our souls are at stake. It seems to me that you are
prepared and have taken effectual measures so you will not be taken by
surprise. I commend you for it. It is the one thing necessary. We must
always work at it, because not to persevere in the spiritual life is to
go back. But those who have the gale of the Holy Spirit go forward even
in sleep. If the vessel of our soul is still tossed with winds and storms,
let us awake the Lord who reposes in it. He will quickly calm the sea.
I have taken the liberty to impart to you these good sentiments that you
may compare them with your own. May they serve to re-kindle them, if at
any time they may be even a little cooled. Let us recall our first favors
and remember our early joys and comforts. And, let us benefit from the
example and sentiments of this brother who is little known by the world,
but known and extremely caressed by God.
I will pray for you. Please pray also for me, as I am yours in our Lord.
Fifth Letter: Today I received two books and a letter from Sister M--,
who is preparing to make her profession. She desires the prayers of your
holy society, and yours in particular. I think she greatly values your
support. Please do not disappoint her. Pray to God that she may take her
vows in view of His love alone, and with a firm resolution to be wholly
devoted to Him. I will send you one of those books about the presence of
God; a subject which, in my opinion, contains the whole spiritual life. It
seems to me that whoever duly practices it will soon become devout.
I know that for the right practice of it, the heart must be empty of all
other things; because God will possess the heart alone. As He cannot
possess it alone, without emptying it of all besides, so neither can
He act there and do in it what He pleases unless it be left vacant to
Him. There is not in the world a kind of life more sweet and delightful
than that of a continual conversation with God. Only those can comprehend
it who practice and experience it. Yet I do not advise you to do it
from that motive. It is not pleasure which we ought to seek in this
exercise. Let us do it from a principle of love, and because it is God's
will for us.
Were I a preacher, I would above all other things preach the practice
of the presence of God. Were I a director, I would advise all the world
to do it, so necessary do I think it, and so easy too. Ah! knew we but
the want we have of the grace and assistance of God, we would never lose
sight of Him, no, not for a moment.
Believe me. Immediately make a holy and firm resolution never more to
forget Him. Resolve to spend the rest of your days in His sacred presence,
deprived of all consolations for the love of Him if He thinks fit. Set
heartily about this work, and if you do it sincerely, be assured that
you will soon find the effects of it.
I will assist you with my prayers, poor as they are. I recommend myself
earnestly to you and those of your holy society.
Sixth Letter: I have received from M-- the things which you gave her for
me. I wonder that you have not given me your thoughts on the little book
I sent to you and which you must have received. Set heartily about the
practice of it in your old age. It is better late than never.
I cannot imagine how religious persons can live satisfied without the
practice of the presence of God. For my part I keep myself retired with
Him in the depth and center of my soul as much as I can. While I am with
Him I fear nothing; but the least turning from Him is insupportable. This
practice does not tire the body. It is, however, proper to deprive it
sometimes, nay often, of many little pleasures which are innocent and
lawful. God will not permit a soul that desires to be devoted entirely to
Him to take pleasures other than with Him. That is more than reasonable.
I do not say we must put any violent constraint upon ourselves. No, we
must serve God in a holy freedom. We must work faithfully without trouble
or disquiet, recalling our mind to God mildly and with tranquillity as
often as we find it wandering from Him. It is, however, necessary to put
our whole trust in God. We must lay aside all other cares and even some
forms of devotion, though very good in themselves, yet such as one often
engages in routinely. Those devotions are only means to attain to the
end. Once we have established a habit of the practice of the presence
of God, we are then with Him who is our end. We have no need to return
to the means. We may simply continue with Him in our commerce of love,
persevering in His holy presence with an act of praise, of adoration,
or of desire or with an act of resignation, or thanksgiving, and in all
the ways our spirits can invent.
Be not discouraged by the repugnance which you may find in it from
nature. You must sacrifice yourself. At first, one often thinks it a waste
of time. But you must go on and resolve to persevere in it until death,
notwithstanding all the difficulties that may occur.
I recommend myself to the prayers of your holy society, and yours in
particular. I am yours in our Lord.
Seventh Letter: I pity you much. It will be a great relief if you can
leave the care of your affairs to M-- and spend the remainder of your life
only in worshipping God. He requires no great matters of us; a little
remembrance of Him from time to time, a little adoration. Sometimes to
pray for His grace. Sometimes to offer Him your sufferings. And sometimes
to return Him thanks for the favors He has given you, and still gives you,
in the midst of your troubles. Console yourself with Him the oftenest
you can. Lift up your heart to Him at your meals and when you are in
company. The least little remembrance will always be pleasing to Him.
You need not cry very loud. He is nearer to us than we are aware. And we
do not always have to be in church to be with God. We may make an oratory
of our heart so we can, from time to time, retire to converse with Him
in meekness, humility, and love. Every one is capable of such familiar
conversation with God, some more, some less. He knows what we can do.
Let us begin then. Perhaps He expects but one generous resolution
on our part. Have courage. We have but little time to live. You are
nearly sixty-four, and I am almost eighty. Let us live and die with
God. Sufferings will be sweet and pleasant while we are with Him. Without
Him, the greatest pleasures will be a cruel punishment to us. May He be
blessed by all.
Gradually become accustomed to worship Him in this way; to beg His grace,
to offer Him your heart from time to time; in the midst of your business,
even every moment if you can. Do not always scrupulously confine yourself
to certain rules or particular forms of devotion. Instead, act in faith
with love and humility.
You may assure M-- of my poor prayers, and that I am their servant,
and yours particularly.
Eighth Letter: You tell me nothing new. You are not the only one who
is troubled with wandering thoughts. Our mind is extremely roving. But
the will is mistress of all our faculties. She must recall our stray
thoughts and carry them to God as their final end.
If the mind is not sufficiently controlled and disciplined at our first
engaging in devotion, it contracts certain bad habits of wandering and
dissipation. These are difficult to overcome. The mind can draw us,
even against our will, to worldly things. I believe one remedy for this
is to humbly confess our faults and beg God's mercy and help.
I do not advise you to use multiplicity of words in prayer. Many words
and long discourses are often the occasions of wandering. Hold yourself
in prayer before God, like a dumb or paralytic beggar at a rich man's
gate. Let it be your business to keep your mind in the presence of the
Lord. If your mind sometimes wanders and withdraws itself from Him, do
not become upset. Trouble and disquiet serve rather to distract the mind
than to re-collect it. The will must bring it back in tranquillity. If
you persevere in this manner, God will have pity on you.
One way to re-collect the mind easily in the time of prayer, and
preserve it more in tranquillity, is not to let it wander too far
at other times. Keep your mind strictly in the presence of God. Then
being accustomed to think of Him often, you will find it easy to keep
your mind calm in the time of prayer, or at least to recall it from its
wanderings. I have told you already of the advantages we may draw from
this practice of the presence of God. Let us set about it seriously and
pray for one another.
Ninth Letter: The enclosed is an answer to that which I received from
M--. Please deliver it to her. She is full of good will but she would
go faster than grace! One does not become holy all at once. I recommend
her to your guidance. We ought to help one another by our advice, and
yet more by our good example. Please let me hear of her from time to
time and whether she is very fervent and obedient.
Let us often consider that our only business in this life is to please
God, that perhaps all besides is but folly and vanity. You and I have
lived over forty years in the monastic life. Have we employed them in
loving and serving God, who by His mercy has called us to this state
and for that very end? I am sometimes filled with shame and confusion
when I reflect, on the one hand, upon the great favors which God has
done and continues to do for me; and, on the other, upon the ill use I
have made of them and my small advancement in the way of perfection.
Since, by His mercy, He gives us yet a little time, let us begin
in earnest. Let us repair the lost time. Let us return with full
assurance to that Father of mercies, who is always ready to receive
us affectionately. Let us generously renounce, for the love of Him,
all that is not Himself. He deserves infinitely more. Let us think of
Him perpetually. Let us put all our trust in Him.
I have no doubt that we shall soon receive an abundance of His grace,
with which we can do all things, and, without which we can do nothing
but sin. We cannot escape the dangers which abound in life without the
actual and continual help of God. Let us pray to Him for it constantly.
How can we pray to Him without being with Him? How can we be with Him
but in thinking of Him often? And how can we often think of Him, but by
a holy habit which we should form of it? You will tell me that I always
say the same thing. It is true, for this is the best and easiest method
I know. I use no other. I advise all the world to do it.
We must know before we can love. In order to know God, we must often
think of Him. And when we come to love Him, we shall then also think
of Him often, for our heart will be with our treasure.
Tenth Letter: I have had a good deal of difficulty bringing myself to
write to M.--. I do it now purely because you desire me to do so. Please
address it and send it to him. It is pleasing to see all the faith you
have in God. May He increase it in you more and more. We cannot have
too much trust in so good and faithful a Friend who will never fail us
in this world nor in the next.
If M.-- takes advantage of the loss he has had and puts all his confidence
in God, He will soon give him another friend more powerful and more
inclined to serve him. He disposes of hearts as He pleases. Perhaps
M.-- was too attached to him he has lost. We ought to love our friends,
but without encroaching upon the love of God, which must always be first.
Please keep my recommendation in mind that you think of God often; by day,
by night, in your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near
you and with you. Leave Him not alone. You would think it rude to leave
a friend alone who came to visit you. Why, then, must God be neglected?
Do not forget Him but think on Him often. Adore Him continually. Live
and die with Him. This is the glorious work of a Christian; in a word,
this is our profession. If we do not know it, we must learn it.
I will endeavor to help you with my prayers, and am yours in our Lord.
Eleventh Letter: I do not pray that you may be delivered from your pains;
but I pray earnestly that God gives you strength and patience to bear
them as long as He pleases. Comfort yourself with Him who holds you
fastened to the cross. He will loose you when He thinks fit. Happy are
those who suffer with Him. Accustom yourself to suffer in that manner,
and seek from Him the strength to endure as much, and as long, as He
judges necessary for you.