Every day she comes and stands, turning slowing, counterclockwise, in the parking lot. She holds in her arms a bundle of infant's clothes. She is praying, calling for her departed child to return to the nest of her body. In A Strange Catechism, Justen Ahren relates the story of a mother and her surviving son, as they journey through grief, lose and separation to a deeper understanding of how life is constructed out of what our fingers keep making in the air/ until dawn' those fleeting things we long for, made real by our longing and our praying for them. "The poems in Justen Ahren's Strange Catechism are songs whose music exists to make beauty out of profound sadness. They are rhythmic, empathic, and polyphonic but behind each one is a voice who says hello to darkness and then sings to it all the while wondering about golondrinas' and the hydrangeas' blue clouds', all the while wondering if the world without [him]/may be the real one.'" --Jennifer Tseng "This collection contains the voice of a poet whose work aches with beauty. The poems are characterized by the paradox of austerity as abundance and religious mystery as lucidity. In Justen Ahren's search for grace we find poetry of excellence." --Jennifer Clement

Do you want to learn more about Catholicism? Are you returning to the faith after a long absence? Do you want to know what role the Catholic faith plays in your life? The Seeker’s Catechism answers your questions in an easy-to-read Q&A format to help you feel more at home with what the Church believes and practices. This updated edition of The Seeker’s Catechism by veteran teacher Michael Pennock offers concise answers to questions about the riches of Catholic faith based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church. You will learn about what the Church teaches about the sacraments, annulment, the purpose of prayer, the Virgin Mary, salvation, the Paschal Mystery, and much more. New features include: questions for personal reflection at the end of each chapter; thought-provoking quotations by saints such as St. John Damascene, St. Aloysius Gonzaga, St. Ambrose, St. Thérèse of Lisieux, St. Birgitta of Sweden, and St. Bernadette; numbered and indexed questions for easy reference; and an appendix offers information about how to become a Catholic. This book is perfect for adults or teens interested in becoming Catholic through RCIA, those preparing for Confirmation, former Catholics returning to the Church, or anyone wanting to begin a closer examination of the faith. It makes an ideal gift for seekers as they begin to explore or enhance their understanding of Catholicism and deepen their relationships with God.