The Grandpa With the Stigmata: The Strange Story of Irving Houle

Grab a Copy of Issue 6 - Strange Catholicism here: https://www.stanthonystongue.com/margins/p/issue-vi-strange-catholicism Buy My Book, A Catechism of the Strange, here: https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Strange-Stigmata-Relics-Miracles/dp/0829460683 Join my Patreon here: http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue  Episode on the Mysticism of the Stigmata:https://youtu.be/Apc3Ifl1n5o Irving Houle was a husband, father, grandfather—and a reported stigmatist who experienced the wounds and Passion of Christ nightly for nearly sixteen years.In this episode, we explore Irving’s strange story, the mysticism behind the stigmata, his reported healing ministry, and what these wounds might reveal about becoming more like Christ.Featured in The Margins: Strange Catholicism and explored alongside the strange phenomena of the saints in A Catechism of the Strange.

Check out Issue 6 here: https://www.stanthonystongue.com/margins/p/issue-vi-strange-catholicismA grandpa with the stigmata. A mystic who healed a future Catholic icon. Glowing saints, strange relics, visions, miracles, and more.Welcome to Strange Catholicism, Issue 6 of The Margins — an exploration of the strange, beautiful, and sometimes downright weird corners of the Catholic faith.

Jesus tells a story about two sons: one says yes and never moves, the other says no — then gets up and goes.In Matthew 21:28–32, we look at a faith that has to become physical: feet in the vineyard, hands in the dirt, sweat on the body.Because God doesn’t just want the yes on your lips.He wants your body where your yes is.

🕊️Resources 🕊️Episode on Theosis: https://youtu.be/TRbknjxcA5U My Catholic Zine, The Margins: ⁠www.stanthonystongue.com/margins⁠ My Book, A Catechism of the Strange: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Strange-Stigmata-Relics-Miracles/dp/0829460683⁠ My Patreon: ⁠http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue⁠ Why do Catholics keep bones?In this episode, we look at relics, the Bible, theosis, resurrection, and what all of this says about the human body. Relics aren’t just strange Catholic objects—they’re a reminder that grace reaches deeper than we think.Based on the relics chapter of A Catechism of the Strange.

🕊️Resources 🕊️My Catholic Zine, The Margins: ⁠www.stanthonystongue.com/margins⁠ My Book, A Catechism of the Strange: ⁠https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Strange-Stigmata-Relics-Miracles/dp/0829460683⁠ My Patreon: ⁠http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue⁠ Absolutely — keep it simple, searchable, and not stuffed:Description:On the Feast of Our Lady of Sorrows, we sit with Mary as the wounded Bride: the woman whose heart was pierced, who stayed near the wounds of Christ, and whose love became something bodily, tangible, and costly.This episode explores Our Lady of Sorrows, the wound of love, bridal mysticism, compassion, the Crucifixion, and what it means to remain open to love in the presence of suffering.

In this episode, we look at Jesus’ parable of the unforgiving servant, the Greek phrase splagchnistheis—to be moved in the guts—and the way Scripture repeatedly connects holiness with a heart that can still be affected by suffering.Compassion is not the enemy of truth. The question is whether the mercy we receive from Christ actually makes us more merciful.

Some saints were said to literally glow.In this episode, we look at the strange stories of luminous saints, the Transfiguration, theosis, and what it might mean for a human life to become radiant with Christ.---🕊️Resources 🕊️Mysticism, Word By Word -- Theosis: https://youtu.be/TRbknjxcA5U?si=BzlYg2gZhzG9V8xz My Catholic Zine, The Margins: www.stanthonystongue.com/margins My Book, A Catechism of the Strange: https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Strange-Stigmata-Relics-Miracles/dp/0829460683 My Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue 

What if heaven is closer than we think?In this Mass Prep, we explore Matthew 18:15–20, communal prayer, the Bride of Christ, and Jesus’ strange promise to be in the midst of us.

What happens when Silicon Valley’s values start shaping the Catholic imagination?In this episode, I’m talking about optimization, branding, algorithms, prayer streaks, Catholic AI, “frictionless faith,” and the danger of treating holiness like something that can be measured on a dashboard.This isn’t an anti-tech rant. It’s a plea for a messier, more embodied, more human Church — one where people still have faces, names, wounds, and time for one another.I just want to see her face.🤖Resources 🕊️Essay - Against Silicon Valley Catholicism: https://stanthonystongue.substack.com/p/against-silicon-valley-catholicism Issue V - Beware of Catholic Robots: https://www.stanthonystongue.com/margins/p/issue-v-beware-of-catholic-robots My Book, A Catechism of the Strange: https://www.amazon.com/Catechism-Strange-Stigmata-Relics-Miracles/dp/0829460683 My Patreon: http://www.patreon.com/anthonystongue 

Join my PatreonCheck Out my ZineOrder my BookIn this week’s Mass Prep, we look at Matthew 16:21–27: Peter trying to correct Jesus, what it means to actually follow Christ, and the strange call to lose your life in order to find it.