Written by Brother Lawrence (1614-1691), a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. This is an excerpt from his book “The Practice of the Presence of God.”
May all our energy be devoted to knowing God. The more one knows Him, the more one desires to know Him. Knowledge is commonly understood as a measure of love. The deeper and more extensive our knowledge is, the greater will be our love. If our love of God is great, we will love Him equally in pain and pleasure. Let us not amuse ourselves by seeking God or loving God in order to receive blessings from God, no matter how lofty those blessings may be. Such blessings, however great, cannot bring us as near to God as one simple movement of faith. Let us seek Him by faith often. He is within us; do not seek Him elsewhere. Are we not rude and blameworthy, if we leave Him alone and busy ourselves with trifles, which do not please Him and may even offend Him? These trifles will one day cost us dearly. Let us be devoted to Him earnestly. Let us cast away everything else from our hearts. He desires to possess them exclusively. Beg this favor from Him. If we do our part, we shall soon see the transformation within us that we desire.
Prayer:
Today’s prayer is from the Roman Breviary ,a book of the liturgical rites of the Latin Church. Published in 1482, it became known as the Liturgy of the Hours.
Most gracious God,
to know and love your will is righteousness,
enlighten our souls with the brightness of your presence,
that we may both know your will and be enabled to perform it;
through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
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