• February 12th - Brother Lawrence (Nicholas Herman)

    From rich@1:396/4 to All on Mon Feb 11 08:37:23 2019
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    February 12th - Brother Lawrence (Nicholas Herman)

    Brother Lawrence (c. 1614 - February 12th, 1691) was a Carmelite monk,
    who is today most commonly remembered for the closeness of his
    relationship to God as recorded in the classic Christian text, =E2=80=9CThe Practice of the Presence of God.=E2=80=9D

    Brother Lawrence was born Nicholas Herman in H=C3=A9rim=C3=A9nil, near Lun= =C3=A9ville
    in the region of Lorraine, located in modern day eastern France. He
    received a revelation of the providence and power of God at the age of
    18, but it would be another six years before he joined the Discalced
    Carmelite Priory in Paris. In this intervening period he fought in the
    Thirty Years' War and later served as a valet.

    Nicholas entered the priory in Paris as a lay brother, not having the
    education necessary to become a cleric, and took the religious name,
    "Lawrence of the Resurrection". He spent almost all of the rest of his
    life within the walls of the priory, working in the kitchen for most
    of his life and as a repairer of sandals in his later years.

    Yet despite, or perhaps because of, his somewhat lowly position, his
    character attracted many to him. He was known for his profound peace
    and many came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom that he
    passed on to them, in conversations and in letters, would later become
    the basis for the book, =E2=80=9CThe Practice of the Presence of God.=E2=80= =9D This
    work was compiled after Brother Lawrence died by one of those whom he
    inspired, Father Joseph de Beaufort, later vicar general to the
    Archbishop of Paris.

    He began life as Nicholas Herman, born to peasant parents in Lorraine,
    France. As a young man, his poverty forced him into joining the army,
    and thus he was guaranteed meals and a small stipend. During this
    period, Herman had an experience that set him on a unique spiritual
    journey; it wasn't, characteristically, a supernatural vision, but a supernatural clarity into a common sight.

    In the deep of winter, Herman looked at a barren tree, stripped of
    leaves and fruit, waiting silently and patiently for the sure hope of
    summer abundance. Gazing at the tree, Herman grasped for the first
    time the extravagance of God's grace and the unfailing sovereignty of
    divine providence. Like the tree, he himself was seemingly dead, but
    God had life waiting for him, and the turn of seasons would bring
    fullness. At that moment, he said, that leafless tree "first flashed
    in upon my soul the fact of God," and a love for God that never after
    ceased to burn. Sometime later, an injury forced his retirement from
    the army, and after a stint as a footman, he sought a place where he
    could suffer for his failures. He thus entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris as Brother Lawrence.

    He was assigned to the monastery kitchen where, amidst the tedious
    chores of cooking and cleaning at the constant bidding of his
    superiors, he developed his rule of spirituality and work. In his
    Maxims, Lawrence writes, "Men invent means and methods of coming at
    God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that
    love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not
    quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love
    of him?"

    For Brother Lawrence, "common business," no matter how mundane or
    routine, was the medium of God's love. The issue was not the
    sacredness or worldly status of the task but the motivation behind it.
    "Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can
    do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan
    for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to
    work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to
    pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."

    Brother Lawrence retreated to a place in his heart where the love of
    God made every detail of his life of surpassing value. "I began to
    live as if there were no one save God and me in the world." Together,
    God and Brother Lawrence cooked meals, ran errands, scrubbed pots, and
    endured the scorn of the world.

    He admitted that the path to this perfect union was not easy. He spent
    years disciplining his heart and mind to yield to God's presence. "As
    often as I could, I placed myself as a worshiper before him, fixing my
    mind upon his holy presence, recalling it when I found it wandering
    from him. This proved to be an exercise frequently painful, yet I
    persisted through all difficulties."

    Only when he reconciled himself to the thought that this struggle and
    longing was his destiny did he find a new peace: his soul "had come to
    its own home and place of rest." There he spent the rest of his 80
    years, dying in relative obscurity and pain and perfect joy.


    Quote:
    "I walk before God simply, in faith, with humility and with love; and
    I apply myself diligently to do nothing and think nothing which may
    displease Him."
    --Brother Lawrence

    Bible Quote:
    I will give glory to Thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise Thee, O
    God my Saviour.
    I will give glory to Thy name: for Thou hast been a helper and
    protector to me.=C2 (Ecclesiasticus 51:1-2)


    <><><><>
    Meditation

    =C2 =C2 You should never doubt that God's spirit is always with you,
    wherever you are, to keep you on the right path. God's keeping power
    is never at fault, only your realization of it. You must try to
    believe in God's nearness and availability of His grace. It is not a
    question of whether God can provide a shelter from the storm, but of
    whether or not you seek the security of that shelter. Every fear,
    worry, or doubt is disloyalty to God. You must endeavor to trust God
    wholly. Practice saying: "All is going to be well." Say it to yourself
    until you feel it deeply.

    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)
  • From rich@1:396/4 to All on Mon Feb 11 08:37:23 2019
    From: rich <richarra@gmail.com>

    February 12th - Brother Lawrence (Nicholas Herman)

    Brother Lawrence (c. 1614 - February 12th, 1691) was a Carmelite monk,
    who is today most commonly remembered for the closeness of his
    relationship to God as recorded in the classic Christian text, =E2=80=9CThe Practice of the Presence of God.=E2=80=9D

    Brother Lawrence was born Nicholas Herman in H=C3=A9rim=C3=A9nil, near Lun= =C3=A9ville
    in the region of Lorraine, located in modern day eastern France. He
    received a revelation of the providence and power of God at the age of
    18, but it would be another six years before he joined the Discalced
    Carmelite Priory in Paris. In this intervening period he fought in the
    Thirty Years' War and later served as a valet.

    Nicholas entered the priory in Paris as a lay brother, not having the
    education necessary to become a cleric, and took the religious name,
    "Lawrence of the Resurrection". He spent almost all of the rest of his
    life within the walls of the priory, working in the kitchen for most
    of his life and as a repairer of sandals in his later years.

    Yet despite, or perhaps because of, his somewhat lowly position, his
    character attracted many to him. He was known for his profound peace
    and many came to seek spiritual guidance from him. The wisdom that he
    passed on to them, in conversations and in letters, would later become
    the basis for the book, =E2=80=9CThe Practice of the Presence of God.=E2=80= =9D This
    work was compiled after Brother Lawrence died by one of those whom he
    inspired, Father Joseph de Beaufort, later vicar general to the
    Archbishop of Paris.

    He began life as Nicholas Herman, born to peasant parents in Lorraine,
    France. As a young man, his poverty forced him into joining the army,
    and thus he was guaranteed meals and a small stipend. During this
    period, Herman had an experience that set him on a unique spiritual
    journey; it wasn't, characteristically, a supernatural vision, but a supernatural clarity into a common sight.

    In the deep of winter, Herman looked at a barren tree, stripped of
    leaves and fruit, waiting silently and patiently for the sure hope of
    summer abundance. Gazing at the tree, Herman grasped for the first
    time the extravagance of God's grace and the unfailing sovereignty of
    divine providence. Like the tree, he himself was seemingly dead, but
    God had life waiting for him, and the turn of seasons would bring
    fullness. At that moment, he said, that leafless tree "first flashed
    in upon my soul the fact of God," and a love for God that never after
    ceased to burn. Sometime later, an injury forced his retirement from
    the army, and after a stint as a footman, he sought a place where he
    could suffer for his failures. He thus entered the Discalced Carmelite monastery in Paris as Brother Lawrence.

    He was assigned to the monastery kitchen where, amidst the tedious
    chores of cooking and cleaning at the constant bidding of his
    superiors, he developed his rule of spirituality and work. In his
    Maxims, Lawrence writes, "Men invent means and methods of coming at
    God's love, they learn rules and set up devices to remind them of that
    love, and it seems like a world of trouble to bring oneself into the consciousness of God's presence. Yet it might be so simple. Is it not
    quicker and easier just to do our common business wholly for the love
    of him?"

    For Brother Lawrence, "common business," no matter how mundane or
    routine, was the medium of God's love. The issue was not the
    sacredness or worldly status of the task but the motivation behind it.
    "Nor is it needful that we should have great things to do. . . We can
    do little things for God; I turn the cake that is frying on the pan
    for love of him, and that done, if there is nothing else to call me, I prostrate myself in worship before him, who has given me grace to
    work; afterwards I rise happier than a king. It is enough for me to
    pick up but a straw from the ground for the love of God."

    Brother Lawrence retreated to a place in his heart where the love of
    God made every detail of his life of surpassing value. "I began to
    live as if there were no one save God and me in the world." Together,
    God and Brother Lawrence cooked meals, ran errands, scrubbed pots, and
    endured the scorn of the world.

    He admitted that the path to this perfect union was not easy. He spent
    years disciplining his heart and mind to yield to God's presence. "As
    often as I could, I placed myself as a worshiper before him, fixing my
    mind upon his holy presence, recalling it when I found it wandering
    from him. This proved to be an exercise frequently painful, yet I
    persisted through all difficulties."

    Only when he reconciled himself to the thought that this struggle and
    longing was his destiny did he find a new peace: his soul "had come to
    its own home and place of rest." There he spent the rest of his 80
    years, dying in relative obscurity and pain and perfect joy.


    Quote:
    "I walk before God simply, in faith, with humility and with love; and
    I apply myself diligently to do nothing and think nothing which may
    displease Him."
    --Brother Lawrence

    Bible Quote:
    I will give glory to Thee, O Lord, O King, and I will praise Thee, O
    God my Saviour.
    I will give glory to Thy name: for Thou hast been a helper and
    protector to me.=C2 (Ecclesiasticus 51:1-2)


    <><><><>
    Meditation

    =C2 =C2 You should never doubt that God's spirit is always with you,
    wherever you are, to keep you on the right path. God's keeping power
    is never at fault, only your realization of it. You must try to
    believe in God's nearness and availability of His grace. It is not a
    question of whether God can provide a shelter from the storm, but of
    whether or not you seek the security of that shelter. Every fear,
    worry, or doubt is disloyalty to God. You must endeavor to trust God
    wholly. Practice saying: "All is going to be well." Say it to yourself
    until you feel it deeply.

    --- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
    * Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)