Brother Lawrence, a seventeenth-century lay brother in a Carmelite monastery, suggests that spiritual devotion belongs in the kitchen and the garden as much as the chapel. The text, compiled from his letters and interviews, centers on the discipline of maintaining a continuous internal conversation with the creator during mundane labor. Lawrence argues that holiness stems from performing small tasks solely for the love of the divine, rather than seeking emotional ecstasies or complex theological insights. He rejects the distinction between times of prayer and times of business, advocating for a steady focus that ignores distractions and personal failings.
This book serves practitioners of contemplative prayer and individuals seeking to integrate their faith into a demanding work life. Readers use these lessons to reduce the psychological friction between their secular duties and their inner convictions. By adopting Lawrence’s habit of constant mental redirection, they learn how to remain calm under pressure and find purpose in repetitive chores. The audience gains a practical method for building resilience and focus through the deliberate cultivation of awareness during every waking moment.
Inward-looking, contemplative and clear-cut; an easy read.
Best for readers like The Empathetic Explorer. Which reader are you?
- Published
- 1692
- Language
- EN
