Brother Lawrence was a 17th-century French Discalced Carmelite lay brother who lived in Paris. Born Nicolas Herman in the Duchy of Lorraine, he spent his early years as a soldier during the Thirty Years' War before seeking a religious life. He joined the Carmelite community in Paris, where he served in humble roles such as a cook and a sandal maker. He is most famous for his spiritual wisdom, which was collected after his death in a book titled *The Practice of the Presence of God*.