Brother Lawrence Carmelite Monk
Brother lawrence was a french monk carmelite who lived from 1611 to 1691.
Brother lawrence carmelite monk. Francis as a young man he was a soldier but after becoming a monk he lived a quiet life performing various domestic chores for his monastery. Many of them were to long time friends a carmelite sister and a sister at a nearby convent. Brother lawrence s letters are the very heart and soul of what is titled the practice of the presence of god. He thus entered the discalced carmelite monastery in paris as brother lawrence.
Brother lawrence was a 17th century carmelite monk in france. 1614 12 february 1691 served as a lay brother in a carmelite monastery in paris. Prior to becoming a monk he was known as nicholas herman of lorraine. Practing the presence of god brother lawrence conversation nicholas herman a 17th century carmelite monk.
Compiled by father joseph de beaufort read by peter john parisis of detroit michigan. Brother lawrence of the resurrection 1605 1691 was a lay brother in the parisian carmelite order which practiced extreme asceticism. Sometime later an injury forced his retirement from the army and after a stint as a footman he sought a place where he could suffer for his failures. Carmelite saints through the year brother lawrence of the resurrection lawrence was a brother in the discalced house in paris where among his everyday tasks as a cook and cobbler he enjoyed a continual sense of god s love.
All of these letters were written during the last ten years of his life. Brother lawrence of the resurrection c. With such a dull task brother lawrence began to infuse his relationship with god into his menial tasks. Brother lawrence is a 17th century carmelite monk who engaged in a near continual conversation with god.
Even while he was doing seemingly menial tasks of while he was sick he had a constant consciousness of the presence of god. Christians commonly remember him for the intimacy he expressed concerning his relationship to god as recorded in a book compiled after his death the classic christian text the practice of the presence of god. At the age of 24 brother lawrence joined the order of discalced carmelites in paris taking the religious name lawrence of the resurrection. He was assigned to kitchen duty in the monastery where he prepared and cooked the food for the day and cleaned afterwards.