Editor's note: "Jérôme Lejeune: The Saintly Geneticist" is one of many wonderful reads on Aleteia's 2024 Summer Book List for Kids. We invite you to check out all the books on the list, as well as the books on our lists for teens and adults as well!
Many of the greatest scientists have been Catholic — Mendel, Pasteur, Copernicus, and countless others—yet inexplicably the myth persists that faith and science are at odds.
This “supposed conflict between science and religion” is “tragic nonsense," according to Word on Fire’s Bishop Robert Barron. He has spoken many times about the need to eradicate this myth:
A major reason that many young people are disaffiliating from our churches is the supposed conflict between science and the faith … This “war” is in fact a fantasy, an illusion, the fruit of a tragic misunderstanding.
A new children’s book from Word on Fire’s Votive children’s imprint offers a powerful example of a saintly man who saw no conflict between his Catholic faith and his groundbreaking scientific research.
A venerable scientist
Venerable Jérôme Lejeune was a French physician who discovered the genetic underpinnings of Down syndrome. A new picture book about his life, Jérôme Lejeune: The Saintly Geneticist by Ana Braga-Henebry, shows children that faith and science are both gifts from God:
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.
The postulator of the cause of canonization of Jérôme Lejeune, Aude Dugast, described Lejeune in this way:
He was a famous scientist, a genius, but he never saw any conflict between faith and science. Science helped him know creation, and faith helped him understand creation and to understand God. He showed there is no contradiction between these two kinds of knowledge.
Advocate for the right to life
Jérôme Lejeune: The Saintly Geneticist tells his story in a way that’s accessible for kids of all ages and includes heartfelt and moving stories about his Down syndrome patients, such as the young man with Trisomy 21 who stood up at Lejeune’s funeral to loudly declare, “Thank you, Dr. Lejeune! Because of you, I am proud of myself!”
An important part of Lejeune’s story is that he advocated for every child’s right to life, and parents may want to know that this book does refer to abortion, although the mention is subtle. It went over my kids' heads, but you may wish to read it yourself and decide whether the mention is appropriate for your child.
Certainly, his story shows what it looks like “in action” to love and appreciate both science and religion. Hopefully this book will inspire the next generation of Catholic scientists and doctors to embrace both with gusto and joy.
Discussion Questions
- Why did the children who were Dr. Lejeune’s patients love him? What does he show us about how to treat other people, including those who are different from us?
- Although Dr. Lejeune and his wife received many invitations to fancy places, they were happiest at home with their five children. What can we learn from them about what might make us happy?
- How did Dr. Lejeune’s faith in God play a role in his work as a scientist?
