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One "Amen" Is Not Enough! Liturgy and the Mentally Disabled

Jack Miffleton


Dennis is a thirteen year old who has a behavioral disability. Similar to the character that Dustin Hoffman played in the movie, The Rain Man, Dennis often repeats what he hears two or three times. At Mass Dennis will sometimes repeat “Amen” or “Thanks be to God” several times. At first this was a distraction to some in the assembly, but now that he is better known, those around him often have to suppress the urge to join him! Dennis loves to sing hymns, and, of course, he delights in the “Holy, Holy, Holy,” especially when it is spoken. With humor and understanding the pastor has pointed out that in his repetitions, Dennis is actually applying the Hebrew manner of expressing the ultimate superlative as the Prophet Isaiah did when he wrote: “Holy, holy, holy is the Lord of hosts” (Isaiah 6:3). Sometimes one “Amen” is just not enough for Dennis to express his heartfelt assent to God.

Jesus and the Disabled (Mark 2:1–12)
Saint Mark writes of the time when a huge crowd came to a house in Capernaum to hear Jesus. The gathering was so large they could not fit in the room. Can you imagine the distraction as they strained to hear Jesus preaching when suddenly four men made an opening in the roof and lowered a paralyzed man into the room? But think too of the gift these four men gave to their disabled friend. They did not just talk to him about Jesus. They took concrete loving action. They were clever and persistent and found a way for their friend to meet Jesus. Jesus in turn used the incident to show that he spoke with God’s authority.

The Assembly and the Disabled
Today many barriers to worship have been removed for the physically disabled, but attitudinal barriers can still inhibit and discourage those with mental disabilities from participating regularly in worship. Disabled Christians must be made welcome from childhood. In pastoral practice the Church offers understanding and flexibility in welcoming children with mental disabilities to the eucharistic table. The four friends of the paralytic man in Mark’s Gospel demonstrate to the worshipping community an important lesson concerning its responsibility for one another in liturgy and life. Their faith in Jesus and love for their friend were the steps that led to his healing.

The Spiritual Gifts of the Disabled
In his book God Plays Piano, Too: The Spiritual Lives of Disabled Children (New York: Crossroad Publishing, 1993), Dr. Brett Webb-Mitchell describes young people who have been diagnosed with behavioral disorders as “lost pilgrims in an alien land.” The author is a Presbyterian minister who has worked for many years with children who have behavioral, emotional, and developmental disabilities. Using techniques similar to those employed by psychiatrist, Robert Coles in his classic, The Spiritual Life of Children (Boston: Houghton Mifflin, 1990), Webb-Mitchell tells the profound spiritual stories of these special children. Their stories reveal openness to mystery and praise of God that are real and intense. Webb-Mitchell challenges the Church as the body of Christ to be more intentional in affirming the gifts of these children and involving them in the life and ministry of the Church.

The unique creativity and unpredictability of these special children are reminders that there is a certain wildness in their Creator, for this is the God who can speak from a burning bush or in a gentle wind, who can part the seas and who became incarnate, living among us in history and in faith. Saint Paul embraces children such as Dennis when he writes: “There are different gifts, but the same Spirit. There are different ministries, but the same Lord. There are different works, but the same God who accomplishes all of them in everyone (1 Corinthians 12:4–6). And sometimes one “Amen” is just not enough to respond to the wonder of the Holy Spirit!
Jack Miffleton is a teacher and musician. His songs are sung in classrooms and churches around the world. He is theological consultant and music director for the I Am Special program published by OSV Publications (osv.com). He teaches music at Saint. Jarlath School in Oakland, California, is married and has a grown son.