Skip to product information
1 of 8

Jérôme Lejeune: The Saintly Geneticist

Jérôme Lejeune: The Saintly Geneticist

by Ana Braga-Henebry

Illustrated by Anita Barghigiani

Format
Regular price $24.95 USD
Regular price $24.95 USD Sale price $24.95 USD
SAVE 0% Sold Out MADE IN ITALY

CMA 2025 Book Award for Life and Dignity of the Human Person (Honorable Mention)

As a young boy, Jérôme Lejeune wanted to study medicine. When he grew up, not only did he become a doctor, but he made a groundbreaking discovery about Down syndrome and fiercely advocated for every child’s right to life. This picture book biography about a Catholic pediatrician who became a pioneer of scientific research will inspire young readers with its remarkable story and stunning illustrations. Declared venerable by the Catholic Church, Dr. Lejeune is an example of faith, integrity, and courage.

Details

Publisher: Word on Fire Votive
ISBN: 978-1-68578-097-5
Binding: Hardcover
Page count: 48
Dimensions: 8.25 x 10.25 (in)
Thickness: .41
Made in: Italy
Language: English
Release date: May 20, 2024
Age Range: 5-12

About the Author

Ana Braga-Henebry

Ana Braga-Henebry grew up the seventh of ten children in Rio de Janeiro and earned an M.A. in Humanities. Together with her husband Geoff, a scientist and professor at a major state university, she raised seven children who today are college/graduate students, a Marine Corps officer, a Norbertine sister, a musician and a computer engineer. Ana is a lifelong educator. She loves to garden and to cook while listening to audiobooks. Ana writes and speaks about books and Catholic family life.

Anita Barghigiani

Anita Barghigiani graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence. She currently lives in the woods between Florence and Bologna, where she works, plays the guitar, and actively helps animals as a volunteer.

Shipping & Returns

Shipping policy

When will my order ship?

  • When items are in-stock, orders placed before 8am CT should ship out that same business day from our Illinois warehouse. 
  • Depending on your shipping address and the shipping method you select at checkout, in-stock items should arrive between 7-10 business days.
  • If your order contains a preordered/backordered item, no items in your order will ship until the preordered item becomes available (i.e. your order will ship all at once.)

 

Do you ship internationally?

  • We offer two international shipping methods, Passport and DHL. Passport has all taxes and duties included in the shipping cost. DHL is delivered duties unpaid, and you may be responsible for taxes and duties when your package is delivered. 
  • International orders are subject to unpredictable delays by customs, and are subject to security mandates, duties, and other fees upon receipt.  
  • Please allow international orders a significant amount of flexibility in timeframe to receipt. 
  • We do accept international returns, but we are unable to generate return labels for international shipments. 

 

Can I make changes or corrections to my order?

  • Please contact us as soon as possible—ideally within 2 hours of placing your order—at 866-928-1237 or sales@wordonfire.org with your order correction details. We’ll work quickly to see if any edits to your order are still possible.
  • Once an order has shipped, we are unable to cancel it.

 

Refund policy

Return Policy

For non-damaged, standard returns:

Our products may be returned if they were purchased within the last 90 days, are unused, and are still in their original packaging. Original shipping costs are already collected by the shipper, and therefore the original shipping costs are not refundable.

We will provide a pre-paid return label to you. The maximum shipping cost covered will be $20. If the return shipping costs in excess of $20 to ship it to us, that will be deducted from the refund amount. (Meaning, if one orders 30 bibles and changes their mind after receiving them, it would not be good stewarding of our donor-provided funds for the ministry to cover that return shipment.)


Exceptions and limitations:

  • Bulk books (evangelization pricing): Books sold in pre-boxed quantities are evangelistic in nature and priced as low as possible, and we cover the original shipping cost. For that reason, we are unable to cover return shipping costs for bulk books. If you choose to return a bulk book, return shipping will be the customer’s responsibility in that case.
  • Seasonal titles (including Advent and Lenten Gospel Reflections): Seasonal titles are final sale and are not eligible for returns or refunds.


For damaged items: 

For damages to the item that are significant in nature, such as missing pages, large gashes in the cover, major creases in the cover, or dents, etc, please email us at sales@wordonfire.org for a no-cost replacement. For minor damages, like a nick or otherwise tiny blemish, or a slightly bent inward corner, or a slightly flaked embossing, these returns may be accepted but the return shipping will not be covered in order to be good stewards of the donor provided funds that make our non-profit ministry possible. For items that are shipped in protective packaging, such as the Leather Bible, note that the outer box is meant to absorb damage in shipping, and the box should not be considered the product itself, and the box is not replaceable.

 

How can I set up my return? 

Please email us to set up your return at sales@wordonfire.org. 

Your order record will be retrieved by the system based on the email address you used to make the purchase. For this reason, please have the email address or the order number (example: Q######) handy when beginning the return process. We are able to accept international returns, but we are unable to generate return shipping labels from countries outside the United States.  

 

Guarantee

Damaged items

If your book arrives with significant damage, such as missing pages, large cover gashes, major creases or dents, email sales@wordonfire.org for a no-cost replacement.

Minor blemishes may be accepted for return, but return shipping is not covered. Protective outer packaging is not considered the product and is not replaceable.

Read the full returns and replacement policy.

View full details
Smiling middle-aged woman with curly gray hair and glasses, shown in a close-up portrait with a blurred background.

About the Author

Ana Braga-Henebry grew up the seventh of ten children in Rio de Janeiro and earned an M.A. in Humanities. Together with her husband Geoff, a scientist and professor at a major state university, she raised seven children who today are college/graduate students, a Marine Corps officer, a Norbertine sister, a musician and a computer engineer. Ana is a lifelong educator. She loves to garden and to cook while listening to audiobooks. Ana writes and speaks about books and Catholic family life.

About the Illustrator

Anita Barghigiani graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts of Florence. She currently lives in the woods between Florence and Bologna, where she works, plays the guitar, and actively helps animals as a volunteer.

What People are Saying

Dugast headshot

“I'm delighted with the publication of this new book, which beautifully recounts the life of Venerable Jérôme Lejeune, a famous doctor and great friend to children. This renowned scientist changed the world of genetics by discovering Trisomy 21 (Down syndrome). With unconditional love for his young patients, he placed his brilliant mind and scientific research in their service, changing the lives of so many with Trisomy 21. He knew that every child, every patient, every disabled person has an infinite value and a precious life. Doctor Lejeune is also a great model of devotion to marriage and family and a man of deep faith. Since the Catholic Church declared him venerable, many young scientists have looked to his example. May this little book inspire young people to become faithful Catholic doctors who will serve with deep love and faith in God, and to become, like Doctor Lejeune, courageous servants of life and truth.”

— Aude Dugast, Postulator of the Cause of Canonization of Jérôme Lejeune

Brian Skotko headshot

“Children now have a front row seat for a course not only about genetics—but about a pioneer doctor who believed in the abilities of all people with Down syndrome.”

— Dr. Brian Skotko, Emma Campbell Endowed Chair on Down Syndrome, Massachusetts General Hospital & Associate Professor, Harvard Medical School

Mantaone headshot

“I love how Braga-Henebry's story introduces us to one of the Church's newest Venerables, Jérôme Lejeune, through beautiful storytelling and illustration. Lejeune recognized the inherent worth in every child, regardless of diagnosis, and we need that message today more than ever. As the parent of two disabled children and an advocate for Catholic special needs parents, I'm happy to see a book that teaches the important lesson that we are all wanted and loved by God, and consequently his Church, exactly the way we were created. All parents will enjoy sharing this story with their children.”

— Kelly Mantoan, Founder, Accepting the Gift, a ministry for Catholic special needs parents, and author, Better Than OK: Finding Joy as a Special Needs Parent

Stephanie Weinert headshot

“I pray that this book finds its way into every Christian home. The world needs courageous young men and women who, inspired by the life and legacy of Jérôme Lejeune, will defend the sanctity of human life and see the inherent dignity in every person.”

— Stephanie Weinert, Down Syndrome Advocate, Special Needs Mom, and founder, Mother & Home

Baglow headshot

“In this amazing new book your children will meet Jérôme LeJeune, the greatest European geneticist of his generation but even more importantly, a pro-life hero, indeed a saint. Barghigiani's warm but bright illustrations will capture their eyes; Braga-Henebry's clear and welcoming prose will conquer their imaginations, and the future of the Culture of Life will gain loyal, devoted ambassadors.”

— Christopher T. Baglow, Professor of the Practice of Theology, McGrath Institute for Church Life, University of Notre Dame​

Add to cart