Stephanie Quesnelle reviews A Catechism of the Strange by W. Tyler Allen.
A Catechism of the Strange: Stigmata, Relics, and the Miracles That Shape the Soul
By W. Tyler Allen
Published by Loyola Press
As a life–long Catholic, I’ve encountered a large share of relic veneration and I’ve always thought it was weird. I couldn’t understand why anyone would venerate bones of a dead person, saint or not, they’re in heaven and I thought I could pray with their intercession just as well at home as in the presence of their relics. I’ve made choices to skip visiting relics because I did not understand the beauty and power. Through A Catechism of the Strange by W. Tyler Allen, relics became a sign of the living God to me. Not weird bones and pieces of cloth, but actually God revealing Himself to us on earth.
Talking about Relics
First, Allen describes the history of relics, pointing to places in the Bible where objects revealed God’s glory. I had never before considered how the hemorrhaging woman clutching for Jesus’ cloak could apply to saint relics. Then, he highlights words of various saints, such as Saint Thomas Aquinas, and their perspectives of relics. The line that sticks with me forever:
The saints, conformed to Christ, carry traces of him, so much so that we touch their remains not out of morbid curiosity but with hope.
It’s a rare treat as a cradle Catholic to encounter a book that, in its entirety, challenges my soul to a deeper encounter while simultaneously teaching me new things about the faith I’ve studied for decades. A Catechism of the Strange by W. Tyler Allen did just that and blew me away chapter by chapter. Somehow the title completely undersells the exquisite balance of catechesis and spiritual depth to this book. He continuously through his accessible prose invites readers “not just to believe, but to contemplate.”
Who the Catechism Serves
With Allen’s chapter-by-chapter introduction to characters and tricky words, it also is an easy encounter of these topics for people unfamiliar with these strange parts of Catholicism. Allen builds a compelling story and an emotional encounter that will appeal to the those unfamiliar with these aspects of Catholicism as well as long-time Catholics. The shorter sections and chapters make A Catechism of the Strange a perfect book for before bed or in Adoration. I don’t care where you read it, you should read it.
Throughout the book, there are also beautiful reflections of how these mystical experiences take place in our own lives. For example, in Chapter 6, Allen says:
And yet, while Teresa and other saints experienced transverberation in dramatic ways, more often it comes quietly. A sudden swelling of joy during prayer. A moment at Mass when your heart aches with longing…. These too are signs of a heart being touched, perhaps even wounded, by love.
In learning about the saints, our own lived experiences are rarely included, leaving us as the Church Militant uncertain about how we could ever be so holy. In A Catechism of the Strange, the mystical is brought to our own spiritual journey. We are called to love deeper, pray quieter, and experience God’s love more fully throughout every single page.
Finally, there are a few chapters where Allen shares his own experience with these mystical experiences. These stories aren’t earthshattering apparitions or mind-blowing miracles. The stories demonstrate that God speaks to us, but we have to be prepared to recognize Him in those strange moments.
Ask for A Catechism of the Strange at your local Catholic bookseller, or order online from Amazon.com or the publisher, Loyola Press.
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Copyright 2026 Stephanie Quesnelle
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