LAWRENCE OF THE RESURRECTION. - Mystic, Discalced Carmelite, in the world Nicolas Herman, b. at Hériménil (Lorraine) in 1614, d. at Paris in 1691. A lay brother in the Carmel of Paris from 1640, he spent the rest of his life there in the humblest domestic occupations.
His doctrine is nothing other than the revelation of his mystical experience. This is set forth in three very brief collections: Maximes spirituelles, Entretiens, Lettres. Characteristic of Brother L.'s doctrine is its utmost simplicity. He reduces everything to the continual loving presence of God and to the avoidance of every disturbance. Yet he by no means shows himself an enemy of ascetic exercises; on the contrary, he lays as the foundation of everything a great purity of heart and a total emptiness of creatures. His total abandonment in God led him to somewhat hyperbolic expressions, for example when he said that he would have wished to hide his good actions from God, so as to be able to serve him without reward. On account of these characteristics Brother L. was highly esteemed even in circles inclined to Quietism (Fénelon) and among Protestants.
Editions: The three above-mentioned collections were published on two occasions by the abbé de Beaufort in 1692 and 1694 with two eulogies, which are their necessary complement. In 1699 and 1710 they were included in collections of Quietist tendency. From then on editions in the English language multiplied, and they still enjoy wide diffusion among Protestants. L. Van de Bossche edited an edition of the French text (Bruges 1934) which served to rehabilitate L. della R. among Catholics. This was followed by a new edition (Paris 1947), edited by S. M. Boucheraux, with a preface by Francesco de S. Maria.
Bibliography
Bartolomeo M. Xiberta