The Angel of the Eucharist: Discovering Marie Estelle Harpin — J. Stephen Russell

J. Stephen Russell, retired professor of medieval literature and Catholic author, joins The Catholic Morning Show to share the story behind Angel of the Eucharist, his English translation of the writings of Marie Estelle Harpin (1814–1841). Who Was Marie Estelle Harpin? Born in 1814 in Santos, France, Marie Estelle was a middle-class young woman who apprenticed as a seamstress. As a teenager, she fell deeply in love with Jesus in the Eucharist, a devotion that utterly transformed her life. Though she faced mockery and alienation early on, her village — and eventually her bishop — came to recognize the beauty and depth of her holiness. She died at only 27 years old. Her bishop ordered her letters and memoir collected and published; the book went through four French editions from the 1840s through the 1880s but was never translated into English until now. Why Has She Been Forgotten? Russell reflects that causes for sainthood can carry a political dimension, and that candidates from less prominent dioceses can be lost in the shuffle. Interest in Marie Estelle peaked in the late nineteenth century, with brief English and French biographies around 1900, before fading entirely. Her cause was recently revived when the French bishops voted to resume studying her life — the link Russell discovered that drew him into the project. Her Spirituality Marie Estelle's Eucharistic devotion was extraordinarily intense. With her pastor's permission, she would spend entire nights on her knees before the tabernacle. One of her most powerful quotes from the translation: "Seek the God of comforts, not the comforts of God." Russell notes that her prayer life was rooted in relationship, not petition — not "ordering at the pickup window," as he put it. Her Humanity Despite her profound holiness, Marie Estelle was deeply relatable: she loved to dance, desired pretty clothes she could never afford, and once nearly stole a trinket before returning it the same day out of conscience. Russell suggests she offers a rich model of Catholic femininity — someone who navigated real temptations while keeping her eyes fixed on Christ. Where to Get the Book Angel of the Eucharist is available in hardback and paperback. No e-book edition is currently available. 🔗 Purchase on Amazon: Amazon.com 🔗 Purchase from Angelico Press: AngelicoPressBooks.com 🔗 Iowa Catholic Radio: IowaCatholicRadio.com #AngelOfTheEucharist #MarieEstelleHarpin #EucharisticDevotion #CatholicSaints #CatholicWomen #JStephenRussell #AngelicoPressBooks #CatholicBooks #CatholicSpirituality #RealPresence #CatholicFemininity #FrenchSaints #CatholicMystics #IowaCatholicRadio #CatholicMorningShow #CatholicPodcast Credits: Produced, Edited, and Mixed by Ayden Pugh, Alexia Baker, and Brady Grimm. ENJOYING THE SHOW? Follow The Catholic Morning Show on Apple Podcasts or Spotify so you never miss an episode — and if this one was worth your time, please leave us a ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ rating. It takes ten seconds and it's the single best way to help more people find the show. 🎧 LISTEN LIVE Catch The Catholic Morning Show live, weekday mornings on Iowa Catholic Radio. Listen Live · Program Schedule · Our Stations LINKSYou can follow us on Facebook, Instagram, Youtube, Tiktok! More on our website.If you would like to support Iowa Catholic Radio you can donate Here! More from Iowa Catholic Radio:Sunday Dive with Katie PatrizioMan Up! with Joe StopulosCatholic Women Now with Chris Magruder and Julie NelsonThe Uncommon Good with Bo Bonner and Dr. Bud MarrBe Not Afraid with Fr. Fabian Moncada and Fr. Bruce RiebeBe Not Afraid en Español con el P. Fabián MoncadaMaking it Personal with Bishop William JoensenFaith and Family Finance with Gregory WaddleThe Great Men of the Bible with Joe Stopulos Liturgy & DevotionsThe Daily Gospel Reflection with Fr. Nick SmithThe Daily Mass from St. Francis of AssisiThe Daily Mass from St. Pius XThe Daily Mass from St. TheresaSunday Mass from the Basilica of Saint JohnWant to support your favorite show? Click Here Iowa Catholic Radio - Connecting People to Christ Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.