Category: Asperger’s

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Stations of the Cross for Autistic People

One of my more recent “hats” is spiritual advisor/director for the Mission of Saint Thorlak.  This website is devoted to spiritual outreach to autistic people (and others), inspired by the example of Saint Thorlak. He was a 12th century bishop of Iceland who may well have been autistic. A number of people believe that he would be an ideal patron saint for autistic people. Click the link to the Mission website that I gave above for more information.

My most recent project for the Mission is putting together a version of the Stations of the Cross that I hope will be especially helpful for people on the autism spectrum.  As you may recall, I am autistic.  I have not found much in the way of devotions and prayers that speaks specifically to the gifts and the challenges faced by people on the spectrum.  I have put together these Stations as one little attempt to address this need.

The Stations that I have put together are based on the Scriptural Stations of the Cross that St. John Paul II used on a number of occasions. I wrote the reflections for each station, and adapted prayers with autistic people in mind.  People who are not autistic will find some food here as well, I trust.

You can find the Stations here. While you are on the Mission website, feel free to explore further, to learn more about Saint Thorlak, and about the Mission.

Your constructive feedback is most welcome!

 

 

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Saint Thorlak of Iceland

Patron Saint for People with Autism Spectrum Disorder?

Telling the digital world that I am on the autism spectrum tends to draw certain kinds of birds to this blog’s nest. I have had feedback from a number of people who are also autistic – sharing comments, questions, and experiences with me. One of them, Aimee O’Connell, told me that she is involved with The Mission of St. Thorlak, a ministry for and with people on the autism spectrum. I had never heard of St. Thorlak before, but he is officially the patron saint of Iceland. Aimee O’Connell is among those who believe that St. Thorlak may have been on the autism spectrum himself. They are proposing him as a patron saint for autistic people. Continue reading “Saint Thorlak of Iceland”

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The Resurrection and the Life

Fifth Sunday of Lent: John 11:1-45

Following the old maxim “Better late than never”, here is a reflection for today’s readings. It was delayed because of an ‘episode’ I had over the last couple of days. I agreed to do two funerals this week, which I knew was a dangerous thing for me, with Holy Week approaching and my “people energy” already low. Yesterday, after the second funeral, I had what people on the autism spectrum know as a meltdown.

For some, a meltdown is a very obvious experience. They will lose all control, rant, throw things, even hurt themselves or others (unintentionally). For me, a meltdown is all internal. Very little of it reaches the surface. In fact, only a small portion of my emotional world reaches the surface, especially when I am with other people. Here is a reliable rule: if you detect the slightest hint of an emotional reaction in me, or if I ever say something like “I’m tired” or “I feel stressed”, you can always safely move the decimal point at least two places to the right in order to obtain the strength of the emotions I am actually experiencing at the moment.  Continue reading “The Resurrection and the Life”