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A Catechism of the Strange: Stigmata, Relics, and the Miracles That Shape the Soul
Enter the Strange—and Discover the Truth That Transforms W. Tyler Allen, host of St. Anthony’s Tongue podcast, beckons us into the mysterious heart of the Catholic faith with his long‑awaited book debut, A Catechism of the Strange.Allen, who has a gift for finding beauty in the weird, shows how the stigmata, visions, relics, and miracles experienced by the saints point to an extraordinary We are meant to be transformed in body, soul, and free will into the likeness of Christ.Whether you are hungry for the grace that emanates from a mystery deftly delivered, or you are driven by curiosity to learn more about these phenomena, this book will speak to you. Seeing that the supernatural is connected to the hidden work of grace in daily life is liberating, empowering, and fascinating.
256 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 15, 2026
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Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews
Review of advance copy received from Netgalley
This book was a frustrating read for me. It had some fascinating ideas, and I learned quite a few things, but I found the writing style distracting.
My biggest issue was that the prose frequently gave me the impression that it had been AI-generated. I use AI myself all the time, but there is something uncomfortable about reading a book that feels as though it may have been generated by AI while being presented as the author’s own writing. Some parts were quite formulaic, and noticeably so: for example, in the “People You Will Meet” section of each chapter, the saints are introduced in essentially the same structure (“A priest/nun/bishop who…, [Name]…”). There are also a lot of triplets and em dashes, and many sentences that sound beautiful and profound at first glance but become vague when you stop to consider what they actually mean.
For example: “And when he sends you, even if your feet stay still, may your love be found in two places—because Christ, alive in you, cannot stay put. He never does.” Which two places? Similarly, there were moments where the language seemed contradictory. The book describes a wound of divine love that “never fully closes”, but shortly afterwards calls it “the only wound that heals”. I could understand the intended theological distinction, but I often wished the writing were clearer.
That said, I did learn a lot from this book. I encountered concepts I had never heard of before, including hierognosis, the supernatural perception of the sacred, and transverberation, the mystical “wounding” of the heart associated with an experience of divine love. I also enjoyed discovering saints I knew little or nothing about: Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, a wanderer who was rejected from entering religious life and was considered eccentric and awkward; Blessed Dina Bélanger, a concert pianist before entering religious life who communicated with her guardian angel; and Saint Martin de Porres, a Dominican brother who bilocated to places such as Mexico and Japan.
Ultimately, I think there is a genuinely interesting book buried beneath the prose, I just struggled to appreciate it as much as I wanted to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Loyola Press for making this book available to me to review.
My biggest issue was that the prose frequently gave me the impression that it had been AI-generated. I use AI myself all the time, but there is something uncomfortable about reading a book that feels as though it may have been generated by AI while being presented as the author’s own writing. Some parts were quite formulaic, and noticeably so: for example, in the “People You Will Meet” section of each chapter, the saints are introduced in essentially the same structure (“A priest/nun/bishop who…, [Name]…”). There are also a lot of triplets and em dashes, and many sentences that sound beautiful and profound at first glance but become vague when you stop to consider what they actually mean.
For example: “And when he sends you, even if your feet stay still, may your love be found in two places—because Christ, alive in you, cannot stay put. He never does.” Which two places? Similarly, there were moments where the language seemed contradictory. The book describes a wound of divine love that “never fully closes”, but shortly afterwards calls it “the only wound that heals”. I could understand the intended theological distinction, but I often wished the writing were clearer.
That said, I did learn a lot from this book. I encountered concepts I had never heard of before, including hierognosis, the supernatural perception of the sacred, and transverberation, the mystical “wounding” of the heart associated with an experience of divine love. I also enjoyed discovering saints I knew little or nothing about: Saint Benedict Joseph Labre, a wanderer who was rejected from entering religious life and was considered eccentric and awkward; Blessed Dina Bélanger, a concert pianist before entering religious life who communicated with her guardian angel; and Saint Martin de Porres, a Dominican brother who bilocated to places such as Mexico and Japan.
Ultimately, I think there is a genuinely interesting book buried beneath the prose, I just struggled to appreciate it as much as I wanted to.
Thank you to NetGalley and Loyola Press for making this book available to me to review.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
I elected to review this book in hopes that it might be accessible to all people, and possibly to young people. I was looking for a universal educational experience. This is deeply theological and most definitely meant for a Catholic audience. There is, of course, no problem with that. Many books are intended for certian groups of people. However, this could have been an opportunity for a clearly well educated author to inform others. That's not that case here, this is a catechism, historically accurate, and (in some parts) reflective look back at the author's experience. There's prayers, facts, and explanations of church teaching about these 'strange' features of the Catholic faith-stigmata, bilocation, incorruptibility. I can't imagine anyone outside the church, seeking inofrmation, would be inclined to push through this.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
4/5 Stars
What stood out to me most was the author's passion for the subject. Their enthusiasm is evident on every page, and they do an excellent job of highlighting the wonder and mystery of faith through numerous examples and stories. I especially enjoyed learning about saints and accounts I had never heard of before, which kept the book engaging throughout. If you're interested in bringing a sense of the mystical back into discussions of faith, there's plenty here to appreciate. That said, this is not a neutral examination of miracles—the author's perspective is clear and deeply felt. Readers looking for a more balanced or skeptical approach may find it less suited to their tastes. Overall, an interesting read.
What stood out to me most was the author's passion for the subject. Their enthusiasm is evident on every page, and they do an excellent job of highlighting the wonder and mystery of faith through numerous examples and stories. I especially enjoyed learning about saints and accounts I had never heard of before, which kept the book engaging throughout. If you're interested in bringing a sense of the mystical back into discussions of faith, there's plenty here to appreciate. That said, this is not a neutral examination of miracles—the author's perspective is clear and deeply felt. Readers looking for a more balanced or skeptical approach may find it less suited to their tastes. Overall, an interesting read.
Review of advance copy received from NetGalley
This book presented a fairly succinct overview of some of the stranger aspects of Catholic theology and practice and presents them not as mere oddities or proof of concept for Catholic beliefs, but a means by which to identify the presence of the divine in the material world. The various topics were all interesting, with well-known concepts like stigmata and relics, and some that I had almost no familiarity with, like bilocation. This would be a good primer for anyone looking to gain some familiarity with the more mystical aspects of Catholicism from the perspective of a believer.
Thank you to Loyola Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
Thank you to Loyola Press for providing this book for review consideration via NetGalley. All opinions are my own.
September 16, 2026
Received advanced copy for review from publisher
Somehow the title completely undersells the exquisite balance of catechesis and spiritual depth to this book.
As a cradle Catholic it's a rare treat to dive into something that challenges my soul to open more to the Holy Spirit. Not only have I learned much about new saints, I have a better appreciation for *why* certain things in our faith exist.
Especially relics. The relic chapter was the best.
Somehow the title completely undersells the exquisite balance of catechesis and spiritual depth to this book.
As a cradle Catholic it's a rare treat to dive into something that challenges my soul to open more to the Holy Spirit. Not only have I learned much about new saints, I have a better appreciation for *why* certain things in our faith exist.
Especially relics. The relic chapter was the best.
Review of advance copy received from Publisher
I’m a long time listener and fan of W’s podcast and work and I thoroughly enjoyed his debut book! The premise of the strange and mysterious is such a great draw and the way he wraps it all up in the end is incredibly poetic and moving. A must read for all Catholics, or anybody, who wishes to appreciate these aspects of the faith.
June 26, 2026
Super interesting! Would love to dig deeper into these topics! Great introduction into the world of relics, miracles…
I learned many new things and I am definitely going to research some of these for further knowledge!
*Thank you NetGalley for providing a free e-copy of this book! This review nevertheless contains my honest opinion.
I learned many new things and I am definitely going to research some of these for further knowledge!
*Thank you NetGalley for providing a free e-copy of this book! This review nevertheless contains my honest opinion.
Displaying 1 - 7 of 7 reviews