The Works of Brother Lawrence (Modern English Edition)

The Practice of the Presence of God

By: Breandan Lumpkin, Brother Lawrence, Joseph de Beaufort

Narrated by: Alvaro Caballero-Calabia

The classic that has taught millions how to live in continual fellowship with God—now rebuilt for modern listeners, fully expanded, and enriched with modern vernacular, in-depth history, and context.

Practicing the Presence of God is one of the most enduring Christian guides to spiritual intimacy. Brother Lawrence, a humble Carmelite lay brother in 17th-century Paris, learned to experience God not through visions or ecstatic prayer, but by remaining with God in the ordinary moments of daily life. His words became a guide for believers seeking peace, stillness, and confidence in God’s love.

This Reader’s Edition restores Brother Lawrence’s complete mystical corpus with clarity and accuracy:

• All fourteen Spiritual Letters revealing how Lawrence prayed through suffering, illness, grief, and spiritual dryness
• The full set of Conversations (Entretiens) including material rarely printed in English, showing Lawrence’s spoken guidance on union with God
• The complete Spiritual Maximsa practical handbook on prayer, faith, surrender, indifference, mortification, Providence, and pure love
• Clean, lightly modernized language faithful to the original French yet immediately listenable for today’s Christian.
• A devotional and scholarly introduction explaining the history of the manuscripts, the Carmelite context, and how this work shaped Western spirituality

Whether you are new to contemplative Christianity or returning to this classic after many years, this edition offers the clearest, most complete, and most spiritually usable form of Brother Lawrence available today.

Live with God.

Work with God.

Suffer with God.

Rest in God.

That is the practice of His presence.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2025 Breandan Lumpkin (P)2026 Breandan Lumpkin

Great help to get closer to God

I find this book a great spiritual direction for people who want to experience inner connection with God. My first experience with audio books. I am pleasantly surprised of the experience. The rhythm of the reading helps me to really absorb the content.

Consolation and Conviction

This reader/listener, previously unfamiliar with the life and teachings of Brother Lawrence, was not prepared to be so personally and profoundly impacted by this title. As someone who is often overwhelmed and preoccupied with petty and fleeting worries, upon completion of the book, I find myself reminded and convicted to simply allow myself to be in the caring and intentional presence of God. Thanks to the gentle, reassuring and guiding tone of the narrator I did not feel shame upon this realization, but rather a compassionate encouragement that echoes the sentiments of the friar.

A wonderful book, beautifully written and narrated with intention, reference and reflection! I look forward to further titles and collaborations between all involved! God bless you!

Great book, and wonderful narration!

I love how the author brings to light the beautiful messages of Brother Lawrence’s letters and conversations. Brother Lawrence’s humble but deep relationship with God speaks to me. He tells us that we should accustom ourselves with a familiar, humble, and affectionate conversation with God. He also says that a brief lifting of the heart to God is as acceptable to Him as a prayer. Also, he points out that God does not consider the greatness of our work, but the love with which it is performed. The narrator does a wonderful job of bringing the author’s writing to life with a sense of calm passion that really draws in the listener. It was a great partnership of the author and the narrator that made this a truly enjoyable and enlightening experience!

Narrator

It was a pleasure recording this audiobook for Breandan Lumpkin. Brother Lawrence's simple and straightforward way of living his life devoutly and with pious intention, truly helps one to meditate on the sole end for which we exist, namely, God Himself. This method of praying without ceasing can certainly aid one in loving God above all things, loving his neighbor as himself, and remaining in a state of grace.