He was born in Prairie du Chien, Wisconsin, on August 8, 1876, and received his elementary and high school education in St. Gabriel's, attending the Church which Father Samuel Mazzuchelli, O.P. had built in 1839 in honor of the Archangel. He studied at St. John's University, Collegeville, Minn. and entered the Order at St. Rose Priory Springfield, Kentucky, where he made profession on September 10, 1897. Following the completion of the humanities, he was sent the following year for his philosophical and theological studies to St. Joseph's Priory, Somerset, Ohio. He was there ordained on August 21, 1902. Although he was considered to be "a frail youth " at the end of his life he lacked but six days to complete sixty-two years in the priesthood.

Father Lawler s long and zealous apostolic life began in the parochial ministry and be was numbered among the first professor of St. Patrick's High School, Columbus Ohio, which later became known as Aquinas. In 1910 while at Holy Rosary in Minneapolis he was assigned to the Mission Band engaged in preaching parochial missions and retreats. He labored in all parts of the United States and in 1919 was appointed Caput of the Western Mission Band. In recognition of his eminent talents be was elevated to the rank of Preacher General in 1926. Two year later be was appointed superior and pastor of St. Peter's in Memphis and in 1933 he was elected Prior of St. Louis Bertrand's, Louisville Kentucky. In 1936 he was again assigned to the preaching of parochial missions.

With the erection of the Province of St. Albert the Great, he was affiliated to the new Province and was appointed Provincial Promotor of the Third Order and of our several Confraternities. After a few years be became Chaplain of the Dominican Sisters at Racine, Wisconsin. When the Novitiate of the Province was removed in 1949 to the newly constructed Priory of St. Peter Martyr, just outside Winona, Minn. he was the first priest to be a signed to it. There he furnished an eminent example of a Dominican whose fruitful ministry had ever sprung from his devotion to regular life with its monastic observances. to the choral office, to the daily celebration of the Holy Sacrifice of the Mass, and to the continued study of sacred doctrine. He died on August 15, 1964 and his body was interred in the community cemetery.