Presence of God
Encyclopedia
Presence of God is a term used in Catholic
theology and devotion.
In theology
, it refers to the belief that God is present by His Essence everywhere and in all things by reason of His Immensity. Furthermore, it also refers to the belief that God is in a special manner really and substantially present in the souls of the just.
In devotion
, to put oneself in the presence of God, or to live in the presence of God, as spiritual writers express it, means to become actually conscious of God as present, or at least so to live as though thus actually conscious. Also, the devout soul may be mindful of His Presence in another way, namely, by the exercise of reason directed by faith. He sees God in the earth, the sea, the air and in all things; in heaven where He manifests His Glory, in hell where He carries out the law of His Justice.
A writer particularly associated with this devotion is Brother Lawrence
, the author of The Practice of the Presence of God
.
Catholic
The word catholic comes from the Greek phrase , meaning "on the whole," "according to the whole" or "in general", and is a combination of the Greek words meaning "about" and meaning "whole"...
theology and devotion.
In theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
, it refers to the belief that God is present by His Essence everywhere and in all things by reason of His Immensity. Furthermore, it also refers to the belief that God is in a special manner really and substantially present in the souls of the just.
In devotion
Catholic devotions
A Roman Catholic devotion is a gift of oneself, or one's activities to God. It is a willingness and desire to dedicate oneself to serve God; either in terms of prayers or in terms of a set of pious acts such as the adoration of God or the veneration of the saints or the Virgin Mary.Roman Catholic...
, to put oneself in the presence of God, or to live in the presence of God, as spiritual writers express it, means to become actually conscious of God as present, or at least so to live as though thus actually conscious. Also, the devout soul may be mindful of His Presence in another way, namely, by the exercise of reason directed by faith. He sees God in the earth, the sea, the air and in all things; in heaven where He manifests His Glory, in hell where He carries out the law of His Justice.
A writer particularly associated with this devotion is Brother Lawrence
Brother Lawrence
Brother Lawrence of the Resurrection served as a lay brother in a Carmelite monastery in Paris. Christians commonly remember him for the intimacy he expressed concerning his relationship to God as recorded in a book compiled after his death, the classic Christian text, The Practice of the Presence...
, the author of The Practice of the Presence of God
The Practice of the Presence of God
The Practice of the Presence of God is a text compiled by Father Joseph de Beaufort of the wisdom and teachings of Brother Lawrence, a 17th century Carmelite monk....
.
External links
- The Spiritual Law Presence of God in contemporary Catholic mysticism
- Catholic Encyclopedia "Presence of God"