Saint Thorlak’s Patronage to Autistic People
- Born February 15, 1133 in Fljótshlið, Iceland
- Educated at Oddi, 1142-1148
- Ordained Deacon, 1148
- Ordained Priest, 1151
- Studied in France and England, 1153-1159
- Returned to Iceland (Pastor of Kirkjubær at Siða), 1162-1167
- Augustinian Canon Regular and Abbot of Þykkvibær monastery, 1168-1174
- Elected Sixth Bishop of Skálholt, 1174
- Died December 23, 1193 in Skálholt
- Declared Iceland’s Patron Saint at the Alþing, 1198
- Formally canonized by Pope St. John Paul II, January 14, 1984
- Feast days are December 23 (Þorláksmessa – Icelandic national holiday, even to this day) and July 20 (feast of the translation of St. Thorlak’s relics and commemoration of local canonization of 1198)
- In 2018, a novena (nine-day devotional prayer) was approved by Bishop David B. Tencer, OFMCap., honoring the life of St. Thorlak. Each day’s devotion highlights a different aspect of St. Thorlak’s life and career, making this prayer both devotion and biographical study.
Although historians rightly characterize Saint Thorlak as a “reformer of the Church,” he was neither a fiery preacher nor a harsh disciplinarian. He was much more concerned with the spiritual needs of individuals in his diocese than the political ramifications of his reforms. He introduced change only after praying, fasting, and modeling the actions he wished to promote. Schooled in the writings of Hugh of St. Victor, and far ahead of his time, Thorlak lived and championed the pastoral approach of merciful love by example.
Having shown academic talent from a very young age, Thorlak was pressured to use his intellect to gain social and political power, particularly in the Church. To the puzzlement and frustration of his political benefactors, he put little stock in social status. Instead of keeping company among those at the grand banquets and large gatherings to which he was frequently invited, he preferred his own small gatherings among the common folk – especially the indigent and disabled – where he felt more meaningful connection. He found refreshment in the sincerity of people who did not invest their energy in social status or esteemed positions. He thrived among these “outcasts” who did not mask anxieties, frailties or difficulties – and he made several enduring friendships among the marginalized.
The author of the Saga of Bishop Thorlak quotes one of his contemporaries as saying: “Thorlak strives to do everything best rather than talk most” (p.9). In a later passage, the author expands: “Thorlak’s lack of eloquence and his sufferings when speaking in public demonstrate that it is not always by eloquence that a man can lead; he can also teach by his own good example” (p.20).
Such characterizations consistently resonate with neurodivergent people in a way that is comfortable, familiar, and relatable.
Across several historical documents, Saint Thorlak is described as:
- Quiet, soft-spoken; more an observer than a principal player
- Gentle toward penitents while maintaining strict adherence to the penitential, taking time to explain rather than dictate
- Careful in considering all sides of disputes brought to him; prioritizing fairness above political pressure
- Contemplative, reflective, thoughtful, and pious
- Extremely knowledgeable in matters of theology, canon law, and Scripture
- Deeply caring toward, and drawn to genuine friendship with, social outcasts and the marginalized
- Respectful of women, and vocally opposed to those who objectified women
- Averse toward political favoritism, self-promotion, and “spin”
- Well-ordered, deliberate, and systematic
- Easily approachable
- Predictable, reliable, and loyal
Many autistic people around the globe have informally adopted Saint Thorlak as a spiritual patron, backed by growing testimony and devotion across several continents. He is widely celebrated for the gifts of his intercession and friendship to autistic laypeople, autistic clergy, autistic people pursuing vocations, and those striving to better welcome and support autistic people in the Church.
This takes nothing away from Saint Thorlak’s intercession and patronage in Iceland, for which Pope St. John Paul II officially recognized him in 1984.
While Saint Thorlak is not the only saint who holds a special place among the neurodivergent, the Holy See does not yet formally recognize any one saint as a particular patron to autistic people.
Among the autistic community, Saint Thorlak is especially appreciated as a patron who does not embody the problematic stereotypes often assigned to autistic people — underscoring the point that neurodivergent traits are fundamentally NOT disruptive, shameful, scandalous or prohibitive to a person’s place and role in the Body of Christ.
As Saint Thorlak was an unflinching advocate for Church reform in his time, so too is his patronage to the Church in our time most welcome — particularly as Church leaders wrestle with the tension between outdated, pathologizing attitudes toward autistic people and the reality of autism’s belonging in the Body of Christ.
Some examples of Saint Thorlak’s influence beyond Iceland:
- A Sermon Honoring St. Thorlak as an Autistic Role Model by a Lutheran Minister from Denmark
- Saint Thorlak’s Community – an initiative of the Church of Scotland
- Tumaini Saint Thorlak Autism Centre – an initiative of the Archdiocese of Nyeri, Kenya
- A number of books mention Saint Thorlak as a patron among neurodivergent people
Short answer: We cannot say with any certainty.
Some feel it is problematic to speculate, and others have taken this question as high as the university level. Descriptions in historical documents are in many ways consistent with patterns observed in autistic people. Many citations from historical texts do align with what we today call hyperlexia, situational mutism, sensory issues, dysautonomia and connective tissue differences, to name a few. Again, this is purely speculative and open to scrutiny.
Noteworthy, too, is the manner in which Saint Thorlak has been portrayed by others. Biographical descriptions of Saint Thorlak resemble the manner in which autistic people are often characterized – both for better and for worse. On the plus side are terms like “wise beyond his years” and “a child prodigy” who taught himself how to read before the age of five (… an impressive feat, considering it was the Book of Psalms he memorized, in a rural farmstead where most occupants were not literate). More negative are descriptions of his rigidity in applying rules, his dislike of games and gambling, his painful struggle to speak, and his weak handshake and bent shoulders.
Many other points remain open for interpretation: Did he observe fasting for ascetic purposes, or did he have restricted eating habits? Did he pray throughout the night out of piety, or because he had difficulty sleeping? Did he abstain from alcohol because he preferred sobriety, or did he have sensory aversions to strong drink? We could ask these questions regarding any of the saints, and the answers would not necessarily point to one being autistic. Sometimes, too, the answer might be “both.”
We do not know if Saint Thorlak was autistic. However, we can say with confidence that descriptions of Saint Thorlak resonate with neurodivergent people in a way that is comfortable, familiar, and relatable.