By Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection
**Recommended by Pope Leo XIV**
“Twice in recent weeks, Pope Leo XIV has brought up a book that essentially spells out his spiritual MO. When asked in a Dec. 2 in-flight press conference about what was on his mind during the conclave, Leo credited a book he had read “many years ago” that highlighted “a type of prayer and spirituality where one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead.”
The book, The Practice of the Presence of God, is only about 100 pages (depending on the edition), but it seems to pack a spiritual punch. It was first published in 1692, the year after the author — simply known as Brother Lawrence, a lay Carmelite brother in France — died at the age of 77.”
A Pope Leo book club? Count me in
The quote above is from an article written by Carol Zimmerman and published in the National Catholic Reporter on Dec. 19, 2026. I don’t recall the first time that I heard or read that Pope Leo had “recommended” The Practice of the Presence of God,” but it was sometime after Dec. 2, 2025, when, in what was described as, “his first major press conference as pope … Leo, almost seven months into his pontificate, told journalists that if there were one book to help people understand who he is, not written by St. Augustine, it would be The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century Carmelite friar…” In press conference, Pope Leo says US has ‘another way’ besides attacking Venezuela | National Catholic Reporter
I do remember smiling and being pleasantly surprised that Pope Leo was recommending a book that I remembered well. I did not remember whether or not I had read the book, nor, if I had read some of it, what it said. I had two (or three) very distinct memories of The Practice of the Presence of God.
First, I remembered that Msgr. John Antoncic (a wonderful priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, may he Rest in Peace) had given a talk to seminarians during my time in the major seminary in Huntington, Long Island (sometime between the fall of 1992 and the spring of 1997). Msgr. Antoncic would have been a priest 25 or more years when he spoke to the seminarians, and he recalled his time in the seminary, in the mid-1960’s, and how he “sat under a tree and read a book called The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. My second clear memory was that I remembered the name of the author. My third memory was that, at some point during my time in the seminary, I had a copy of the book. I believe it had a blue cover with the words of the title and author (and a sketch of a tree?) in yellow or gold.
I remember very little of what Msgr. Antoncic said, but between his mentioning it and having had the copy of the book on my bookshelf for many years (I presume it is in a box somewhere at this point), there was something about that book! So, when I heard Pope Leo’s recommendation, I immediately thought that I should order it on Amazon, which I did not get around to doing. So, I was very happy when someone gave me a (new, updated) copy of it for Christmas. I (finally) read The Practice of the Presence of God in January, while on retreat. Given Pope Leo’s recommendation, you really don’t need my recommendation, but, as you can probably tell by now, I would certainly encourage you to read The Practice of the Presence of God, whether you had never previously read (or heard of) it – or, if it has been a long time since you read it, or heard of it.
I was glad that I came across the article by Carol Zimmerman, as she shares a similar experience of having some memory of the book that came back to her after the pope’s recommendation:
“While editing our coverage of the plane press conference, I thought,”Wait, I know this book,” remembering it because my mom had also been a fan. Later, I pulled out her 1972 edition of The Practice of the Presence of God, with its 60-cent price printed on the cover, from a bookshelf’s pared-down collection of my parents’ religious books from their years of living with us.”
If you click on the link to her article (above), you will see a nice picture of her parents’ “pared down” bookshelf with her Mom’s 1972 edition. In her article, you can also find some helpful biographical information on Brother Lawrence, as well as summaries of the author’s interviews with two Carmelite historians and their thoughts on how the book has remained popular over these more than 300 years, and the book’s relevance for our lives today.
Here is a link to the new/updated (November 2024) version of the book that I received as a Christmas gift, described by Amazon as “The most faithful version of Brother Lawrence’s classic text.”
I am writing this column on the weekend of March 7/8, the Third Sunday of Lent, when we hear and reflect on the Gospel account of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan Woman (at the well) – Jn. 4: 5-52, when we hear Jesus say: “… If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water…”
In the last paragraph of an excellent Preface in this version of The Practice of the Presence of God, Joseph Clampitt offers this reflection on the life and lessons of Brother Lawrence:
“Three hundred years later, his message is still one our world needs to hear. We have been seduced into chasing one high after another: just a few more minutes scrolling social media, one more episode in a binge-watching session, one more shallow Christian book. We drink from wells that don’t satisfy – that were never designed to satisfy! – and wonder when our thirst will be quenched. Only when we drink deeply of Jesus Christ will we find the stream of living water. Brother Lawrence drank constantly from that stream. He was not a peddler of theoretical ideas about God. He only wrote about what he himself had experienced. As you read his words, may his depth of experience become yours as well.” (pg. 4)
I hope and pray, dear Reader, that you may find the time, during this Season of Lent or in the near future, to read the words of Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, as recorded in The Practice of the Presence of God.
Click here to subscribe to our weekly newsletter.
The Practice of the Presence of God** #Catholic –
By Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection
**Recommended by Pope Leo XIV**
“Twice in recent weeks, Pope Leo XIV has brought up a book that essentially spells out his spiritual MO. When asked in a Dec. 2 in-flight press conference about what was on his mind during the conclave, Leo credited a book he had read “many years ago” that highlighted “a type of prayer and spirituality where one simply gives his life to the Lord and allows the Lord to lead.”
The book, The Practice of the Presence of God, is only about 100 pages (depending on the edition), but it seems to pack a spiritual punch. It was first published in 1692, the year after the author — simply known as Brother Lawrence, a lay Carmelite brother in France — died at the age of 77.”
A Pope Leo book club? Count me in
The quote above is from an article written by Carol Zimmerman and published in the National Catholic Reporter on Dec. 19, 2026. I don’t recall the first time that I heard or read that Pope Leo had “recommended” The Practice of the Presence of God,” but it was sometime after Dec. 2, 2025, when, in what was described as, “his first major press conference as pope … Leo, almost seven months into his pontificate, told journalists that if there were one book to help people understand who he is, not written by St. Augustine, it would be The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century Carmelite friar…” In press conference, Pope Leo says US has ‘another way’ besides attacking Venezuela | National Catholic Reporter
I do remember smiling and being pleasantly surprised that Pope Leo was recommending a book that I remembered well. I did not remember whether or not I had read the book, nor, if I had read some of it, what it said. I had two (or three) very distinct memories of The Practice of the Presence of God.
First, I remembered that Msgr. John Antoncic (a wonderful priest of the Diocese of Brooklyn, may he Rest in Peace) had given a talk to seminarians during my time in the major seminary in Huntington, Long Island (sometime between the fall of 1992 and the spring of 1997). Msgr. Antoncic would have been a priest 25 or more years when he spoke to the seminarians, and he recalled his time in the seminary, in the mid-1960’s, and how he “sat under a tree and read a book called The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection. My second clear memory was that I remembered the name of the author. My third memory was that, at some point during my time in the seminary, I had a copy of the book. I believe it had a blue cover with the words of the title and author (and a sketch of a tree?) in yellow or gold.
I remember very little of what Msgr. Antoncic said, but between his mentioning it and having had the copy of the book on my bookshelf for many years (I presume it is in a box somewhere at this point), there was something about that book! So, when I heard Pope Leo’s recommendation, I immediately thought that I should order it on Amazon, which I did not get around to doing. So, I was very happy when someone gave me a (new, updated) copy of it for Christmas. I (finally) read The Practice of the Presence of God in January, while on retreat. Given Pope Leo’s recommendation, you really don’t need my recommendation, but, as you can probably tell by now, I would certainly encourage you to read The Practice of the Presence of God, whether you had never previously read (or heard of) it – or, if it has been a long time since you read it, or heard of it.
I was glad that I came across the article by Carol Zimmerman, as she shares a similar experience of having some memory of the book that came back to her after the pope’s recommendation:
“While editing our coverage of the plane press conference, I thought,”Wait, I know this book,” remembering it because my mom had also been a fan. Later, I pulled out her 1972 edition of The Practice of the Presence of God, with its 60-cent price printed on the cover, from a bookshelf’s pared-down collection of my parents’ religious books from their years of living with us.”
If you click on the link to her article (above), you will see a nice picture of her parents’ “pared down” bookshelf with her Mom’s 1972 edition. In her article, you can also find some helpful biographical information on Brother Lawrence, as well as summaries of the author’s interviews with two Carmelite historians and their thoughts on how the book has remained popular over these more than 300 years, and the book’s relevance for our lives today.
Here is a link to the new/updated (November 2024) version of the book that I received as a Christmas gift, described by Amazon as “The most faithful version of Brother Lawrence’s classic text.”
I am writing this column on the weekend of March 7/8, the Third Sunday of Lent, when we hear and reflect on the Gospel account of Jesus’ encounter with the Samaritan Woman (at the well) – Jn. 4: 5-52, when we hear Jesus say: “… If you knew the gift of God and who is saying to you, ‘Give me a drink,’ you would have asked him and he would have given you living water…”
In the last paragraph of an excellent Preface in this version of The Practice of the Presence of God, Joseph Clampitt offers this reflection on the life and lessons of Brother Lawrence:
“Three hundred years later, his message is still one our world needs to hear. We have been seduced into chasing one high after another: just a few more minutes scrolling social media, one more episode in a binge-watching session, one more shallow Christian book. We drink from wells that don’t satisfy – that were never designed to satisfy! – and wonder when our thirst will be quenched. Only when we drink deeply of Jesus Christ will we find the stream of living water. Brother Lawrence drank constantly from that stream. He was not a peddler of theoretical ideas about God. He only wrote about what he himself had experienced. As you read his words, may his depth of experience become yours as well.” (pg. 4)
I hope and pray, dear Reader, that you may find the time, during this Season of Lent or in the near future, to read the words of Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection, as recorded in The Practice of the Presence of God.