Practicing God's Presence with Brother Lawrence

Embracing Patience and Presence in Everyday Life

In this episode of The Catholic Man Show, hosts David Niles and Adam Minihan dive into the spiritual wisdom of Brother Lawrence, a 17th-century Carmelite lay brother, and his timeless book, The Practice of the Presence of God. From a heartfelt story about Adam’s son asking, “Can patience exist without annoyance?” to exploring how Brother Lawrence found God in the chaos of a busy kitchen, the hosts discuss cultivating a constant awareness of God’s presence. They address modern distractions like smartphones and share practical ways to reclaim presence in daily life, drawing inspiration from Brother Lawrence’s disciplined yet joyful spirituality.

Key Topics Covered:

• Adam’s son’s profound question: “Can patience exist without annoyance?”
• Brother Lawrence’s life as a lay brother and former soldier, finding God in mundane tasks
• The importance of disciplined prayer to build a habit of God’s presence
• Overcoming modern distractions like technology to stay present with God and others
• Practical tips: Cultivating natural focus to enable supernatural awareness

Action Item:

Practice presence by setting aside your phone during family time or conversations. Start with disciplined prayer to build a habit of offering every moment to God, as Brother Lawrence did.

Resources:

• The Practice of the Presence of God by Brother Lawrence (ICS Publications: icspublications.org)
• Join a pilgrimage with Select International Tours: selectinternationaltours.com

Keywords: Brother Lawrence, Practice of the Presence of God, Catholic spirituality, patience, spiritual discipline, overcoming distractions, presence with God, Catholic men’s faith, Christian living, technology and faith