Young Jef de Veuster loved to skim along frozen streams in the little Belgian village of Tremeloo and crowd with his friends around the fried potato wagon at country fairs. No one would have thought that he would become the great missionary hero, Father Damien, whose name would be known throughout the world.

This is the story of Jef and his family, of the gradual development of the religious vocation, of his decision to dedicate his life to the care of the miserable, forgotten victims of leprosy isolated on Molokai in the Hawaiian Islands. It is the story too of the sad-eyed natives, too long neglected, who watch unbelievingly as the big cheerful priest, armed with hammer and saw, determines to build decent homes for his people. Little by little they regain their faith, their spirit, their laughter. To Damien too comes help when the young American, Ira Dutton, arrives to dedicate his life to the same work.

Mr. and Mrs. Sheehan have written an inspiring, action-filled hopeful story of the missionary priest of the Congregation of the Sacred Hearts of Jesus and Mary whose beatification cause has now been introduced in Rome.

From the dust jacket