Presence Of God

The following writings were published in the 1400-1600s in Europe by Catholic clergy. They were both deeply devoted to God and to their faith and wrote what they intended to be words of admonishment and encouragement to the believers of the time. It is apparent that they were very sincere in their love of God and wished to share a knowledge of Him with others. The Practice of the Presence of God, a compilation of conversations and letters of Brother Lawrence (Nicholas Herman), gives great insight into the life of a Catholic monk in the mid-1600s in France. He had chosen a strict monastic life in order to devote himself fully to learning more about himself and his relationship to God. His almost comfortable and familiar relationship with

There is much practical application relating to submission, praise, confession, thankfulness, and daily companionship and walk with God. If one is not reading for doctrinal soundness, it could be a relevant resource for how the Christian life should be lived. The Imitation of the Christ was originally likely written in Prussia in the early 1400s in medieval Latin by Thomas a Kempis, an Augustine monk. It has been widely used as a spiritual classic and a source of inspiration and information for years in the Christian Church and specifically in the Catholic Church. This writing is actually separated into four books having different titles and dealing with different issues of the spiritual life. They all revolve around the central theme that imitation of the actions and spirit of Jesus Christ helps one attain a state of grace with God. Book One: Admonitions Profitable for the Spiritual Life deals mainly with having charity and doing good works, working to control our worldly desires in order to be strong in our faith. We should not be just striving to shun or avoid temptation, but to get rid of it in our lives, and to judge oneself and not

He tells the reader not to put faith in man, who will disappoint, but in God, and learn to think on and commune with Him. Do not seek praise of common man, but be humble and do good, loving Jesus always and seeking to serve Him, even when it requires hardship and suffering. Book Three: On Inward Consolation is written as a dialogue between the disciple and Jesus and also includes prayers. He teaches much about the deep love Christ has for His children and how we must listen and learn what He will teach willing souls. We must recognize our own weaknesses, lean on Christ and follow His leading instead of running ahead in our own strength. The true disciple seeks to be humble and patient, working faithfully and leaving the reward to God. We are our own worst enemy and we must yield our will to God to conquer this. Book Four: Of the Sacrament of the Altar is also a dialogue between the disciple and Christ. Here believers are exhorted about how they should properly prepare themselves to participate in Holy Communion. “A man should not be a curious searcher of the Sacrament, but a humble imitator of Christ, submitting his sense to holy faith” (Ch. XVIII). Before taking communion, there should be serious examination of conscience, confession, seeking forgiveness, then