An autism ministry... for everyone?
The Mission of Saint Thorlak is a movement of minds and hearts to understand, recognize, address and prevent spiritual starvation among humanity today.
Our roots began in wanting to help youth and young adults with autism spectrum disabilities, who very often have a chronic sense of being on the outside looking in. This is not to be confused with the symptoms and behaviors of autism spectrum disabilities. This is a deeply personal and pervasive sense of never quite being understood, or never feeling good enough to measure up, or never feeling satisfied that the people who like us really like us - or even remember us at the end of the day. It is a lonely sense of disconnection.
This is a reality for many with autism. Whether the affected person is an introvert, an extrovert, is high functioning or is completely nonverbal, this generalized sense of isolation is an undercurrent for them that never goes away. It feels devastating. It is often kept secret because it brings a sense of shame.
It is something that cannot readily be treated. Social skills groups are valuable to teach the navigational mechanics of building relationships. Buddies and mentors are helpful to those who feel lost in the sea of confusing social rules. Antidepressants and antianxiety medications address the biochemical framework on which we operate. But what is there to treat that constant feeling of invisibility – especially when young people begin to age out of primary and middle school supports, and are expected to navigate the already confusing social scene of adolescence and young adulthood?
This is where we paused and realized: Spiritual starvation may be a problem for people with autism, but it is not exclusively an “autism problem.” In fact, large numbers of youth and young adults feel disconnected, lonely, misunderstood and invisible whether or not they have an autism diagnosis!
We found a solution by way of Iceland, the small nation in the North Sea with a very well kept treasure: a quiet spiritual powerhouse whose way fed throngs of hungry hearts and earned him recognition as a canonized saint in the Roman Catholic Church. His name: Thorlak Thorhallsson (Icelandic: Þorlákur Þórhallsson).
Saint Thorlak was a master teacher in how he approached matters of the heart. He was a brilliant scholar, a spiritual mentor to hundreds of people, and a voice of one who went up against many opponents in many areas. By the end, he won over a great many people simply with his sincerity, his humility in expressing his needs, and his genuine desire to learn from everyone he encountered. He exemplified the Gospels in a very simple formula: pray-contemplate-relate.
He also had many of the same qualities we recognize today as belonging on the autism spectrum.
Although autism was not a term used in his lifetime, St. Thorlak exhibited multiple characteristics of someone with autism. Most remarkably, his speaking ability was severely impaired and he was highly socially anxious.
The combination of great theological wisdom, deep understanding of human needs and a simple desire to be known for who he was, makes St. Thorlak’s way a marvelous pattern to follow in our day and time, when spiritual starvation is a critical problem for youth and young adults worldwide – those with, and those without autism spectrum disabilities.
The Mission of Saint Thorlak is NOT a ministry to reach out to the marginalized because we want to change their circumstances.
The Mission of Saint Thorlak is NOT a movement for inviting people with autism into our circle because they need help feeling included.
The Mission of Saint Thorlak is to befriend people – in the manner people with autism are taught to befriend people – because reaching out to others yields insights that teach us more profoundly how hearts are fed and nourished in friendship.
In doing so, we ponder the question: In this Mission, who holds the bread of friendship, and who is fed by it?
Perhaps we didn't realize the extent of the nourishment we have needed ourselves.
Our roots began in wanting to help youth and young adults with autism spectrum disabilities, who very often have a chronic sense of being on the outside looking in. This is not to be confused with the symptoms and behaviors of autism spectrum disabilities. This is a deeply personal and pervasive sense of never quite being understood, or never feeling good enough to measure up, or never feeling satisfied that the people who like us really like us - or even remember us at the end of the day. It is a lonely sense of disconnection.
This is a reality for many with autism. Whether the affected person is an introvert, an extrovert, is high functioning or is completely nonverbal, this generalized sense of isolation is an undercurrent for them that never goes away. It feels devastating. It is often kept secret because it brings a sense of shame.
It is something that cannot readily be treated. Social skills groups are valuable to teach the navigational mechanics of building relationships. Buddies and mentors are helpful to those who feel lost in the sea of confusing social rules. Antidepressants and antianxiety medications address the biochemical framework on which we operate. But what is there to treat that constant feeling of invisibility – especially when young people begin to age out of primary and middle school supports, and are expected to navigate the already confusing social scene of adolescence and young adulthood?
This is where we paused and realized: Spiritual starvation may be a problem for people with autism, but it is not exclusively an “autism problem.” In fact, large numbers of youth and young adults feel disconnected, lonely, misunderstood and invisible whether or not they have an autism diagnosis!
We found a solution by way of Iceland, the small nation in the North Sea with a very well kept treasure: a quiet spiritual powerhouse whose way fed throngs of hungry hearts and earned him recognition as a canonized saint in the Roman Catholic Church. His name: Thorlak Thorhallsson (Icelandic: Þorlákur Þórhallsson).
Saint Thorlak was a master teacher in how he approached matters of the heart. He was a brilliant scholar, a spiritual mentor to hundreds of people, and a voice of one who went up against many opponents in many areas. By the end, he won over a great many people simply with his sincerity, his humility in expressing his needs, and his genuine desire to learn from everyone he encountered. He exemplified the Gospels in a very simple formula: pray-contemplate-relate.
He also had many of the same qualities we recognize today as belonging on the autism spectrum.
Although autism was not a term used in his lifetime, St. Thorlak exhibited multiple characteristics of someone with autism. Most remarkably, his speaking ability was severely impaired and he was highly socially anxious.
The combination of great theological wisdom, deep understanding of human needs and a simple desire to be known for who he was, makes St. Thorlak’s way a marvelous pattern to follow in our day and time, when spiritual starvation is a critical problem for youth and young adults worldwide – those with, and those without autism spectrum disabilities.
The Mission of Saint Thorlak is NOT a ministry to reach out to the marginalized because we want to change their circumstances.
The Mission of Saint Thorlak is NOT a movement for inviting people with autism into our circle because they need help feeling included.
The Mission of Saint Thorlak is to befriend people – in the manner people with autism are taught to befriend people – because reaching out to others yields insights that teach us more profoundly how hearts are fed and nourished in friendship.
In doing so, we ponder the question: In this Mission, who holds the bread of friendship, and who is fed by it?
Perhaps we didn't realize the extent of the nourishment we have needed ourselves.
The Mission of Saint Thorlak is constantly developing and posting materials on these themes for individual reflection, group discussion, youth/young adult ministry and support groups. Please visit our Mission Statement page, as well as our Mission Activities posts, to learn more.
