For some ND people familiar with the TLM, seeing "look, a Mass for ND people!" immediately makes us think "gee, if only a thing like that already existed... ah, yes, it did, once". It isn't an unnatural leap and it is a very real frustration. Please don't assume that the commenter who brought this up is trying to be obnoxious.
The Mass they described definitely had me thinking "the Venn Diagram of this 'ND Mass' and a TLM Low Mass has a LOT of overlap." I refrained from making the comment because the TLM isn't going to be perfect for everyone's needs even if it addresses the needs of many in spades, and also because why bother touching the "third rail" of liturgy if it's not absolutely necessary?
TLM is NOT a sensory friendly Mass. My middle child cannot endure babies crying and TLM is full of babies. I have scoped it out to see if I could entice her back to the Church (if some other obstacles were also overcome).
My oldest child, meanwhile, LOVES babies and every noise they make (he has a script: makes a baby sound "don't make baby sounds", makes a loud monkey sound "really don't make monkey sounds", asks what he is allowed to do instead "just say 'awww' ❤️".)
Just as a reminder to me that people with autism come in all kinds and that I will never find a Mass that they can both be themselves at this side of the grave.
Fair enough! I was mainly thinking of the musical and congregational components, that the low Mass cuts down on *ritualized* loud noises compared to other formats. But no, I guess it's not likely to have a particularly accommodating *congregation*... nor priest, for that matter.
That's what I was thinking, actually. Two autistic people can have entirely opposite needs, which is part of why putting together programs for ND folks is so difficult. Not everyone with special needs is well served by SPRED. But I think the TLM does have the advantage of offering both Low and High Mass, and my parish at least has enough Masses that some have few babies (the ones that are too far before or too far after religious ed to be convenient). But that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will find something that works well for them. There's some special needs folks at my TLM parish (mostly autistic) that I know of, but don't know well enough to see how well it works for them.
I wouldn't count out the Eastern liturgies. I've heard some of them have a long tradition of welcoming special needs people.
If the audiosensitivity trigger is the crying babies, then the problem is *not* with the TLM, but rather with “who’s sitting in the pews” which applies just as much to a NO Mass.
Thank you for sharing that neat tidbit about the differences between your two little ones!
Some Mass locations and times are naturally quieter than others because of where the building is or who is in it, even if we control for other factors such as "hymns or no hymns".
Right. But as I asked, what do crying babies have to do with a Mass? That has to do with a congregation which is irrespective of the type of Mass. Things that would be particular to a TLM vs NO Mass:
Priest's voice audible (or even amplified) throughout
Other voices audible (or even amplified): lectors
Strictly choreographed order to priest and altar server movement
Audible congregational responses
Noise and chatter at the kiss of peace
Incense (definitively not present at a Low Mass)
I'm sure there are others, but those are what come to mind as things particular to a the Mass as such. I can definitely see how a person for whom the necessity of seeing an activity take place might not find comfort in a Low Mass, but any way you swing it because at no time is the congregation expected to speak or shake hands or hear the priest throughout, a Low Mass will be quieter than a NO Mass. Babies crying or chitchat before/after Mass or basically anything else that happens in the nave for which rubrics don't explicitly call isn't some intrinsic feature of a Mass. More precisely, a congregation may be loud or quiet at any particular Mass or Divine Liturgy, but you made a claim about a particular Mass not being sensory friendly.
Both NO and TLM Masses can be quiet, I think depends entirely on the way each parish does things. My son with autism had a really hard time with TLM when he was younger - he couldn't see what was going on and so it didn't keep his attention. Its not good or bad, it just wasn't for him.
I know where the low mass is very sensory friendly in some ways. But you don't need to make everything about the dlm. Be happy that this Mass exists. Don't start yelling about how actually people should start going to a mass that they're not familiar with and making it about yourself.
As pointed out elsewhere in the thread, the TLM low mass is not some one size fits all solution and doesn't work for everyone with sensory issues.
I dislike TC as well. But going around in a sour grapes fashion getting mad about TC in the comments of an article celebrating a good thing is just in bad taste.
There are quiet NO Masses too though. In our parish its the Saturday evening Mass. In others, its the earliest morning Mass. And, as others have mentioned, sometimes its not the amount of music or volume that is the challenging part. I have two neurodiverse sons and they are very different when it comes to Mass and what is the best environment for them.
I’d like to be able to have discussions on Catholic issues specific to the topic.
I have attended the TLM a number of times, and choose to attend the NO as my regular preference. I am strongly opposed to restrictions on the TLM, and I think that TC is the wrong direction, and persecution of faithful, fruitful Catholics.
I would like some consideration in return. I don’t want to go to the TLM. I don’t want to be educated on how superior it is. Believe it or not, I’ve spent years educating myself, and exploring the TLM offered in parishes within driving distance. I understand and am very well educated on both forms of the Mass.
I would like to be left alone to my choice. No matter where you go in a parish that offers the TLM, or online on Catholic sites, someone just has to show you the Catholic equivalent of their vacation pictures. If the topic warrants, I expect to be in a discussion of both forms. But most of the times I am referring to, people were having another discussion entirely.
Like a sensory friendly Mass which I hope will someday be offered in our town. It would be a wonderful experience for my own two autistic grandchildren. I appreciate the post for sharing such news, and perhaps ideas other parishes can implement.
> I’d also note that the typical Novus Ordo is inherently hostile to the ND since it forces the assembly to do things.
But I don't think you know how "diverse" neurodiverse is.
It only "forces" people who care what anyone else thinks. My oldest son (who never makes any attempt at masking) frequently lies down in the pew at the start of the homily and does not get up again until it is time for communion. Since I have observed that people just have to put up with him violating their expectations that everyone will sit, stand, kneel, and make verbal responses, and that it turns out, radically, that none of them care (a few of them do care if someone gets up and runs around, or farts in a stinky way, or makes noises other than the responses; no one cares if he is motionless and quiet and relatively odorless, as long as they know 1. he is still alive and 2. he is Somebody Else's Problem), I am more comfortable doing only the things that I feel able to do at any particular moment in Mass.
I'm autistic and TLM is good for people with sensory problems. I have always been stressed out by most music but i actually like Gregorian chant. I am not similarly keen on polyphony though, sorry.
Another person commented that there are crying babies at TLM. True, but that doesn't bother me personally. A big benefit of the TLM is you're never expected to shake hands.
That could be a benefit for us all. Hand shaking and waving and peace signs etc all so disrupt the spiritual moments leading up to receiving the Eucharistic.
Yes I wondered if simple Gregorian chant for the Ordianry and Dialogues of the mass (in English or Latin )with no instruments would work well for most ND. Sounds like it would for you . I’m not ND but I would actually prefer this as the norm with the periodic polyphonic mass which I also love .
Polyphony is a bit alienating if you don’t have the parted sheet music in front of you. And it’s far too easy to slide into cacophony in less competent hands.
This is what it looks like when "inclusivity" is done right. It's geared toward the actual needs of the people affected and not some performative spectacle of pseudo-inclusion. While it'd be nice if some masses not specifically aimed at the neurodiverse could incorporate elements of the adaptive liturgy (quiet, less stimulation, etc.) Perhaps it's best that there are dedicated masses that are put together with the sole concern of "how do we make it possible for our brothers and sisters with special needs (and perhaps some of us are in that category ourselves) to worship God together in the Mass?" Well done.
> For many families, explained Katra, such accommodations — as well as a spirit of welcome — can determine whether they attend Mass at all.
The spirit of welcome is key. My own parish had a religious ed program for special needs kids when mine were in religious ed (it has moved to another parish since then). One of the families coming from elsewhere had been driven out of their own parish by a spirit of unwelcome and were so happy to find just an ordinary Mass (with no attempt to be more accommodating) at which people did not actively resent them being there or tell them to go somewhere else. Such a low bar! It's like when a parish openly does not want babies at Mass, except that it's easier for us to see that the natural consequences of that are going to be fatal to the parish (...even in that case in which enlightened self interest says "welcome the small loud stranger", it is not easy for us to see the *supernatural* consequences, or to be motivated by them; and yet these too are real.)
That "tell them to go somewhere else" just kills. There's a lot to be said for behaving properly at Mass, but those who can't don't lose their baptismal right (or obligation) to be there (all due leeway for taking the screaming baby out).
Just be like "Are you in charge of this parish? Or is Jesus in charge of this parish?"
I will say when I hear groans and similar sounds from special needs parishioners, I have assumed that perhaps this is a prayer or a prayerful response. I very briefly try to join myself to that prayer
The way this is presented it sounds very much like a gimmick employed trying to be relevant.
By all means, have a quieter mass, do have a basket with various accoutrements (although I am sure people can bring their on fidget spinner) and don't stare if someone wears noise cancelling headphones, just don't make a big song and dance about it.
I can see how this can come across as “trendy” or just trying to use buzzwords like “inclusivity,” but it is a big deal to families who have children with sensory disorders or other special needs. I have 3 siblings who all have a genetic disorder that causes intellectual disabilities to varying degrees; my 2 sisters both received religious education at our parish through a special ed program with an amazing woman who started the program and worked with them. I didn’t realize how rare that was or how lucky we were to have that program until I saw the lack at other parishes. I think it is worth highlighting this parish’s efforts at welcoming families with children with special needs, at least so that people at other parishes know what’s possible and can try to bring it to their parishes too.
Something can be “trendy” and also truly worthwhile and meet a real need, and more people need to know about that.
Once I might have had a similar reaction. I greatly prefer a solemn, reverent Mass. However, I watched one of my autistic grandsons fall to the floor one Easter Sunday when the pipe organ boomed out, and the choir sang about twice as loud as usual.
Not a criticism at all, it was a lovely, joy filled Easter Mass, and the parishioners deserved and appreciated every minute of it. But why shouldn’t autistic people, or others with sensory issues be offered something that offers them the same opportunities to experience the beauty and joy we find at Mass?
My two autistic grandsons are often uncomfortable, physically uncomfortable, at Mass. and every once in a while in pain. No one is asking to change every Mass, and it’s likely only once a month this type of thing could be done. I fail to see any good reason to object to it.
Congratulations, they have managed to re-invent the quiet low mass of the TLM.
But it’s useful to note how the “everyone must participate the same way” campus ministry energy of Novus Ordo suburban conformance is harmful to those of us who just want or need to be left alone.
While this is very true, in my experience at low Mass the expectation is that other than babies everyone should be similarly quiet and reverent. Some of the neurodiverse behaviors would be seen as "bad behavior" by people who go to that Mass hoping for an uninterrupted reverent experience. I think one of the big benefits of "sensory" Masses is that people whose kids struggle for once don't feel like they're misunderstood or sticking out like a sore thumb.
It’s completely understandable, and totally expected, that TLM comparisons will be made in response to this kind of thing. It’s like the Church is always reinventing the wheel now, willing to make 1,000+ variations of the NO Mass for every hyper-specific community.
This betrays a belief that the Mass is primarily about us and for us, not preeminently an offering to God; that if we don’t get some sensation or experience out of Mass, then it’s a defect.
You could’ve just turned the microphones off, said the prayers silently, and add a bit of simple quiet plainchant (Low Mass!), but of course we do this and act like we’ve done this totally new and innovative thing. Because obviously it’s US that matters first and foremost!
Meanwhile, the TLM still gets crushed under an oppressive regime.
Lovely article! As I understand it, a group of humans are naturally “neurodiverse.” The correct term for this article would be that it refers to accommodating the needs of “neurodivergent” people. I know the term doesn’t sound as nice, but it’s more accurate.
So glad to see this here in Virginia! Hopefully, we see it trickle down from Arlington to Richmond. That said, our parish has always been pretty welcoming - I have several neurodiverse children and while things aren't tailored to them specifically, I've never once had a parishioner stare us down for giving them breaks even now as preteens or when they were younger and were more challenging behaviorally than your average kid.
The possibility of attendance at a missa lecta also occurred to me as I read the article but it seems to me that the NO Mass can be celebrated almost as quietly etc-- and more or less any adaptations one wants to make can happen at it. I have to go to a NO Mass often and I'd very much appreciate the suppression of most of the 'songs', the ministers moving about to trade off the reading of the lessons, the gesticulating and singing of the cantors, the parade of the many EMHCs, the amplification of the human voice, the unnecessary electric lighting, the use of the electronic display for 'song' lyrics, the Pauline rite of the pax etc etc.
I'm grateful and thankful to God on your behalf that you don't experience disability like this, or know anyone who does, or know anyone trying to raise children with these issues.
On the one hand, your life must be so much easier. On the other hand, you are missing out on the fruitful suffering that teaches other adults compassion and patience.
In perhaps an overabundance of charity, I will say, based on my experiences with my own children, that my suspicion is that autism can be over diagnosed. There are lots of problems that can "look like" autism and the diagnostic criteria are very broad. I have had three kids with sensory processing issues, including one with an autism diagnosis. The other two actually had other medical issues that were easily remedied once discovered and the sensory issues went away almost immediately. My child with a diagnosis benefited so much from therapy and a few lifestyle changes that he no longer fits the criteria. Some well meaning people tell me that we "cured" his autism, but I think it's much more likely that he never was autistic, but was dealing with some other thing - most likely a food sensitivity but I don't know for certain and may never know.
Still, though, I've been the recipient (though not often) of glares and comments as these kids behaved atypically for their ages. In my experience parents like me spend a ton of time, money, and effort painstakingly teaching and practicing skills that other children pick up much more intuitively. I hate feeling conspicuous and my children have made me wrestle with that constantly, which has been mostly good for me. I'm glad for initiatives like the one in this article even if I don't think it would suit my family or our needs - I'm actually the most intrigued by the "reverse cry room" idea for those who really need silence.
This is quite lovely to see. I'd love to see a movement where every parish provides a "quiet" Sunday mass for those of us who are overwhelmed by the noise of most Mass celebrations. I'd really, really love to hear a priest or bishop explain why that's not possible, why every Sunday Mass seems to require multiple, loud songs and pop-style music for every Mass part. If I could get by with attending one of the nice, quiet weekday Masses and have it count for Sunday Mass, I would. BTW, I'm not neurodivergent, just an highly-sensitive introvert who doesn't sing very well and prefers quiet and solemnity.
Neurodiverse Mass but TLM verboten.
How about we allow both? This isn't an either/or situation.
If only we did!
Seriously though.
No, Pat.
It seems you presumed discrimination on the part of Rockville Mom where none was expressed.
Be more careful.
(Lesson for myself, too.)
Not everything needs to be about the TLM.
For some ND people familiar with the TLM, seeing "look, a Mass for ND people!" immediately makes us think "gee, if only a thing like that already existed... ah, yes, it did, once". It isn't an unnatural leap and it is a very real frustration. Please don't assume that the commenter who brought this up is trying to be obnoxious.
The Mass they described definitely had me thinking "the Venn Diagram of this 'ND Mass' and a TLM Low Mass has a LOT of overlap." I refrained from making the comment because the TLM isn't going to be perfect for everyone's needs even if it addresses the needs of many in spades, and also because why bother touching the "third rail" of liturgy if it's not absolutely necessary?
TLM is NOT a sensory friendly Mass. My middle child cannot endure babies crying and TLM is full of babies. I have scoped it out to see if I could entice her back to the Church (if some other obstacles were also overcome).
My oldest child, meanwhile, LOVES babies and every noise they make (he has a script: makes a baby sound "don't make baby sounds", makes a loud monkey sound "really don't make monkey sounds", asks what he is allowed to do instead "just say 'awww' ❤️".)
Just as a reminder to me that people with autism come in all kinds and that I will never find a Mass that they can both be themselves at this side of the grave.
Fair enough! I was mainly thinking of the musical and congregational components, that the low Mass cuts down on *ritualized* loud noises compared to other formats. But no, I guess it's not likely to have a particularly accommodating *congregation*... nor priest, for that matter.
That's what I was thinking, actually. Two autistic people can have entirely opposite needs, which is part of why putting together programs for ND folks is so difficult. Not everyone with special needs is well served by SPRED. But I think the TLM does have the advantage of offering both Low and High Mass, and my parish at least has enough Masses that some have few babies (the ones that are too far before or too far after religious ed to be convenient). But that doesn't necessarily mean that everyone will find something that works well for them. There's some special needs folks at my TLM parish (mostly autistic) that I know of, but don't know well enough to see how well it works for them.
I wouldn't count out the Eastern liturgies. I've heard some of them have a long tradition of welcoming special needs people.
If the audiosensitivity trigger is the crying babies, then the problem is *not* with the TLM, but rather with “who’s sitting in the pews” which applies just as much to a NO Mass.
Thank you for sharing that neat tidbit about the differences between your two little ones!
What do crying babies have to do with a Mass (of any kind) being sensory (un)friendly?
Let me enumerate the senses:
Sight
Hearing
Smell
Touch
Taste
Some Mass locations and times are naturally quieter than others because of where the building is or who is in it, even if we control for other factors such as "hymns or no hymns".
Right. But as I asked, what do crying babies have to do with a Mass? That has to do with a congregation which is irrespective of the type of Mass. Things that would be particular to a TLM vs NO Mass:
Priest's voice audible (or even amplified) throughout
Other voices audible (or even amplified): lectors
Strictly choreographed order to priest and altar server movement
Audible congregational responses
Noise and chatter at the kiss of peace
Incense (definitively not present at a Low Mass)
I'm sure there are others, but those are what come to mind as things particular to a the Mass as such. I can definitely see how a person for whom the necessity of seeing an activity take place might not find comfort in a Low Mass, but any way you swing it because at no time is the congregation expected to speak or shake hands or hear the priest throughout, a Low Mass will be quieter than a NO Mass. Babies crying or chitchat before/after Mass or basically anything else that happens in the nave for which rubrics don't explicitly call isn't some intrinsic feature of a Mass. More precisely, a congregation may be loud or quiet at any particular Mass or Divine Liturgy, but you made a claim about a particular Mass not being sensory friendly.
Both NO and TLM Masses can be quiet, I think depends entirely on the way each parish does things. My son with autism had a really hard time with TLM when he was younger - he couldn't see what was going on and so it didn't keep his attention. Its not good or bad, it just wasn't for him.
The low mass is the most ND friendly Mass in the history of the Church and it’s absolutely germane to bring up here.
I’d also note that the typical Novus Ordo is inherently hostile to the ND since it forces the assembly to do things. The TLM does not.
I know where the low mass is very sensory friendly in some ways. But you don't need to make everything about the dlm. Be happy that this Mass exists. Don't start yelling about how actually people should start going to a mass that they're not familiar with and making it about yourself.
As pointed out elsewhere in the thread, the TLM low mass is not some one size fits all solution and doesn't work for everyone with sensory issues.
I dislike TC as well. But going around in a sour grapes fashion getting mad about TC in the comments of an article celebrating a good thing is just in bad taste.
This article is practically begging for someone to bring up the low mass.
There are quiet NO Masses too though. In our parish its the Saturday evening Mass. In others, its the earliest morning Mass. And, as others have mentioned, sometimes its not the amount of music or volume that is the challenging part. I have two neurodiverse sons and they are very different when it comes to Mass and what is the best environment for them.
I’d like to be able to have discussions on Catholic issues specific to the topic.
I have attended the TLM a number of times, and choose to attend the NO as my regular preference. I am strongly opposed to restrictions on the TLM, and I think that TC is the wrong direction, and persecution of faithful, fruitful Catholics.
I would like some consideration in return. I don’t want to go to the TLM. I don’t want to be educated on how superior it is. Believe it or not, I’ve spent years educating myself, and exploring the TLM offered in parishes within driving distance. I understand and am very well educated on both forms of the Mass.
I would like to be left alone to my choice. No matter where you go in a parish that offers the TLM, or online on Catholic sites, someone just has to show you the Catholic equivalent of their vacation pictures. If the topic warrants, I expect to be in a discussion of both forms. But most of the times I am referring to, people were having another discussion entirely.
Like a sensory friendly Mass which I hope will someday be offered in our town. It would be a wonderful experience for my own two autistic grandchildren. I appreciate the post for sharing such news, and perhaps ideas other parishes can implement.
> I’d also note that the typical Novus Ordo is inherently hostile to the ND since it forces the assembly to do things.
But I don't think you know how "diverse" neurodiverse is.
It only "forces" people who care what anyone else thinks. My oldest son (who never makes any attempt at masking) frequently lies down in the pew at the start of the homily and does not get up again until it is time for communion. Since I have observed that people just have to put up with him violating their expectations that everyone will sit, stand, kneel, and make verbal responses, and that it turns out, radically, that none of them care (a few of them do care if someone gets up and runs around, or farts in a stinky way, or makes noises other than the responses; no one cares if he is motionless and quiet and relatively odorless, as long as they know 1. he is still alive and 2. he is Somebody Else's Problem), I am more comfortable doing only the things that I feel able to do at any particular moment in Mass.
Bridget I wish I could be as honest as your son about boring homilies!
Thank you.
I'm autistic and TLM is good for people with sensory problems. I have always been stressed out by most music but i actually like Gregorian chant. I am not similarly keen on polyphony though, sorry.
Another person commented that there are crying babies at TLM. True, but that doesn't bother me personally. A big benefit of the TLM is you're never expected to shake hands.
That could be a benefit for us all. Hand shaking and waving and peace signs etc all so disrupt the spiritual moments leading up to receiving the Eucharistic.
Yes I wondered if simple Gregorian chant for the Ordianry and Dialogues of the mass (in English or Latin )with no instruments would work well for most ND. Sounds like it would for you . I’m not ND but I would actually prefer this as the norm with the periodic polyphonic mass which I also love .
Polyphony is a bit alienating if you don’t have the parted sheet music in front of you. And it’s far too easy to slide into cacophony in less competent hands.
This is what it looks like when "inclusivity" is done right. It's geared toward the actual needs of the people affected and not some performative spectacle of pseudo-inclusion. While it'd be nice if some masses not specifically aimed at the neurodiverse could incorporate elements of the adaptive liturgy (quiet, less stimulation, etc.) Perhaps it's best that there are dedicated masses that are put together with the sole concern of "how do we make it possible for our brothers and sisters with special needs (and perhaps some of us are in that category ourselves) to worship God together in the Mass?" Well done.
This is incredible. Glad that these accommodations are being made.
> For many families, explained Katra, such accommodations — as well as a spirit of welcome — can determine whether they attend Mass at all.
The spirit of welcome is key. My own parish had a religious ed program for special needs kids when mine were in religious ed (it has moved to another parish since then). One of the families coming from elsewhere had been driven out of their own parish by a spirit of unwelcome and were so happy to find just an ordinary Mass (with no attempt to be more accommodating) at which people did not actively resent them being there or tell them to go somewhere else. Such a low bar! It's like when a parish openly does not want babies at Mass, except that it's easier for us to see that the natural consequences of that are going to be fatal to the parish (...even in that case in which enlightened self interest says "welcome the small loud stranger", it is not easy for us to see the *supernatural* consequences, or to be motivated by them; and yet these too are real.)
That "tell them to go somewhere else" just kills. There's a lot to be said for behaving properly at Mass, but those who can't don't lose their baptismal right (or obligation) to be there (all due leeway for taking the screaming baby out).
Just be like "Are you in charge of this parish? Or is Jesus in charge of this parish?"
I will say when I hear groans and similar sounds from special needs parishioners, I have assumed that perhaps this is a prayer or a prayerful response. I very briefly try to join myself to that prayer
I have often wanted to request the music to be quieter, maybe even position the cantor and choir in the next town.
Amen!!
Spectacular - ALL ARE WELCOME 🙏
I confess I did a few eye rolls while reading.
The way this is presented it sounds very much like a gimmick employed trying to be relevant.
By all means, have a quieter mass, do have a basket with various accoutrements (although I am sure people can bring their on fidget spinner) and don't stare if someone wears noise cancelling headphones, just don't make a big song and dance about it.
I can see how this can come across as “trendy” or just trying to use buzzwords like “inclusivity,” but it is a big deal to families who have children with sensory disorders or other special needs. I have 3 siblings who all have a genetic disorder that causes intellectual disabilities to varying degrees; my 2 sisters both received religious education at our parish through a special ed program with an amazing woman who started the program and worked with them. I didn’t realize how rare that was or how lucky we were to have that program until I saw the lack at other parishes. I think it is worth highlighting this parish’s efforts at welcoming families with children with special needs, at least so that people at other parishes know what’s possible and can try to bring it to their parishes too.
Something can be “trendy” and also truly worthwhile and meet a real need, and more people need to know about that.
Once I might have had a similar reaction. I greatly prefer a solemn, reverent Mass. However, I watched one of my autistic grandsons fall to the floor one Easter Sunday when the pipe organ boomed out, and the choir sang about twice as loud as usual.
Not a criticism at all, it was a lovely, joy filled Easter Mass, and the parishioners deserved and appreciated every minute of it. But why shouldn’t autistic people, or others with sensory issues be offered something that offers them the same opportunities to experience the beauty and joy we find at Mass?
My two autistic grandsons are often uncomfortable, physically uncomfortable, at Mass. and every once in a while in pain. No one is asking to change every Mass, and it’s likely only once a month this type of thing could be done. I fail to see any good reason to object to it.
Congratulations, they have managed to re-invent the quiet low mass of the TLM.
But it’s useful to note how the “everyone must participate the same way” campus ministry energy of Novus Ordo suburban conformance is harmful to those of us who just want or need to be left alone.
While this is very true, in my experience at low Mass the expectation is that other than babies everyone should be similarly quiet and reverent. Some of the neurodiverse behaviors would be seen as "bad behavior" by people who go to that Mass hoping for an uninterrupted reverent experience. I think one of the big benefits of "sensory" Masses is that people whose kids struggle for once don't feel like they're misunderstood or sticking out like a sore thumb.
This parish is incredible. I recommend this place to a lot of local Catholics who are having a really rough time.
It’s completely understandable, and totally expected, that TLM comparisons will be made in response to this kind of thing. It’s like the Church is always reinventing the wheel now, willing to make 1,000+ variations of the NO Mass for every hyper-specific community.
This betrays a belief that the Mass is primarily about us and for us, not preeminently an offering to God; that if we don’t get some sensation or experience out of Mass, then it’s a defect.
You could’ve just turned the microphones off, said the prayers silently, and add a bit of simple quiet plainchant (Low Mass!), but of course we do this and act like we’ve done this totally new and innovative thing. Because obviously it’s US that matters first and foremost!
Meanwhile, the TLM still gets crushed under an oppressive regime.
Lovely article! As I understand it, a group of humans are naturally “neurodiverse.” The correct term for this article would be that it refers to accommodating the needs of “neurodivergent” people. I know the term doesn’t sound as nice, but it’s more accurate.
So glad to see this here in Virginia! Hopefully, we see it trickle down from Arlington to Richmond. That said, our parish has always been pretty welcoming - I have several neurodiverse children and while things aren't tailored to them specifically, I've never once had a parishioner stare us down for giving them breaks even now as preteens or when they were younger and were more challenging behaviorally than your average kid.
The possibility of attendance at a missa lecta also occurred to me as I read the article but it seems to me that the NO Mass can be celebrated almost as quietly etc-- and more or less any adaptations one wants to make can happen at it. I have to go to a NO Mass often and I'd very much appreciate the suppression of most of the 'songs', the ministers moving about to trade off the reading of the lessons, the gesticulating and singing of the cantors, the parade of the many EMHCs, the amplification of the human voice, the unnecessary electric lighting, the use of the electronic display for 'song' lyrics, the Pauline rite of the pax etc etc.
Oh. Good. Lord. When *everybody* is a victim of *something*, you have this.
Rude.
I'm grateful and thankful to God on your behalf that you don't experience disability like this, or know anyone who does, or know anyone trying to raise children with these issues.
On the one hand, your life must be so much easier. On the other hand, you are missing out on the fruitful suffering that teaches other adults compassion and patience.
My experience is real autism is rare, but Munchausen is much more common
That is unbelievably rude and slander against the parents here. If you can’t say something charitable, keep it to yourself.
In perhaps an overabundance of charity, I will say, based on my experiences with my own children, that my suspicion is that autism can be over diagnosed. There are lots of problems that can "look like" autism and the diagnostic criteria are very broad. I have had three kids with sensory processing issues, including one with an autism diagnosis. The other two actually had other medical issues that were easily remedied once discovered and the sensory issues went away almost immediately. My child with a diagnosis benefited so much from therapy and a few lifestyle changes that he no longer fits the criteria. Some well meaning people tell me that we "cured" his autism, but I think it's much more likely that he never was autistic, but was dealing with some other thing - most likely a food sensitivity but I don't know for certain and may never know.
Still, though, I've been the recipient (though not often) of glares and comments as these kids behaved atypically for their ages. In my experience parents like me spend a ton of time, money, and effort painstakingly teaching and practicing skills that other children pick up much more intuitively. I hate feeling conspicuous and my children have made me wrestle with that constantly, which has been mostly good for me. I'm glad for initiatives like the one in this article even if I don't think it would suit my family or our needs - I'm actually the most intrigued by the "reverse cry room" idea for those who really need silence.
This is quite lovely to see. I'd love to see a movement where every parish provides a "quiet" Sunday mass for those of us who are overwhelmed by the noise of most Mass celebrations. I'd really, really love to hear a priest or bishop explain why that's not possible, why every Sunday Mass seems to require multiple, loud songs and pop-style music for every Mass part. If I could get by with attending one of the nice, quiet weekday Masses and have it count for Sunday Mass, I would. BTW, I'm not neurodivergent, just an highly-sensitive introvert who doesn't sing very well and prefers quiet and solemnity.