Silent Communion: The Prophetic Witness of The Profoundly Disabled

ABSTRACT

Contemporary biomedicine typically identifies conditions and states by what a person lacks rather than what he or she is. Accordingly, those with profound cognitive disability are said to lack agency, making them permanent recipients of unidirectional charity and calling into question their status as persons. Seen theologically, however, the profoundly disabled are essential members of the church, without whom Christians cannot rightly worship God. It is through their mute and vulnerable witness that the Church learns to engage ancient practices of silent prayer and hospitality to strangers.

KEYWORDS:

• intellectual disability
• inclusion
• L'Arche
• moral theology
• spirituality

Note

Notes

1. I am indebted to Medi Ann Volpe for this insight.