During a press conference on his return trip from Lebanon on December 2, 2025, Pope Leo XIV said, "One of you -- there is a German journalist on here -- who said to me the other day, tell me one book, besides St. Augustine, that we could read to understand who Prevost is [the Pope's birth name is Robert Prevost, ed.]."
The Pope continued, "And there’s several I thought of, but one of them is a book called The Practice of the Presence of God."
This book was written by a Carmelite friar named Brother Lawrence in the 17th century, and has been a popular spiritual classic ever since it was published posthumously.
To help better understand what this book is about, here are three spiritual insights from it, reflecting that it is a simple and short book but with much rich wisdom:
1How to remain in peace and keep your mind on God during the day
[Brother Lawrence] exercised himself in the knowledge and love of God, resolving to use his utmost endeavor to live in a continual sense of His Presence, and, if possible, never to forget Him ... he went to his work appointed in the kitchen (for he was cook to the society); there having first considered..the things his office required, and when and how each thing was to be done, he spent all the intervals of his time, as well before as after his work, in prayer.
From Brother Lawrence's perspective, he never wanted to forget about God and made a deliberate attempt to always keep God in his mind. He even prayed a short prayer before his duties to ensure this would happen.
O my God, since Thou art with me, and I must now, in obedience to Thy commands, apply my mind to these outward things, I beseech Thee to grant me the grace to continue in Thy Presence; and to this end do Thou prosper me with Thy assistance, receive all my works, and possess all my affections.
2Ask for an increase in love instead of a cure
Brother Lawrence advised a friend in one of his letters not to ask God for a cure.
I told you, in my last [letter], that [God] sometimes permits bodily diseases to cure the distempers of the soul. Have courage then, make a virtue of necessity [and] ask of God, not deliverance from your pains, but strength to bear resolutely, for the love of him, all that he should please, and as long as he shall please.
He further adds, "Love sweetens pains and when one loves God, one suffers for his sake with joy and courage ... he is the Father of the afflicted, always ready to help us. He loves us infinitely more than we imagine. Love him then, and seek not consolation elsewhere."
3Think of prayer as keeping Jesus company as a beloved friend
[R]emember what I have recommended to you, which is, to think often on God, by day, by night, in your business, and even in your diversions. He is always near you and with you; leave Him not alone. You would think it rude to leave a friend alone, who came to visit you: why then must God be neglected? Do not then forget Him, but think on Him often, adore Him continually, live and die with Him; this is the glorious employment of a Christian; in a word, this is our profession, if we do not know it we must learn it.
This picture of prayer is consistent with Jesus' experience in the garden, "When he returned to his disciples he found them asleep. He said to Peter, 'So you could not keep watch with me for one hour?'" (Matthew 26:40)
In a similar way, God asks us each day to spend time with him. Wouldn't we want to spend time with him if he is our best friend?
