United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

25 THE FIRST

COMMANDMENT: BELIEVE IN THE TRUE GOD

“I, THE L ord , AM YOUR GOD. . . . YOU SHALL NOT HAVE OTHER GODS BESIDES ME” (EX 20:2-3) —CCC, NOS. 2083-2141

CATHERINE DE HUECK DOHERTY: LAY APOSTLE OF THE TWENTIETH CENTURY

In 1896, a daughter Catherine was born to Theodore and Emma Kolychkine, a wealthy couple who were deeply religious members of the Russian Orthodox Church. From her earliest years, Catherine accom panied her mother in bringing food, medicine, and clothing to less fortunate neighbors. Her mother wanted Catherine to learn to see the face of God in every human being. Shortly after Catherine’s marriage to the wealthy aristocrat Boris de Hueck, the Russian Revolution

forced the couple to flee to England, where Catherine embraced Roman Catholicism, and then to Canada, where their son George was born. After the financial crisis of 1929, Boris’s business failed. Soon after, the marriage also failed and was ultimately annulled by the Catholic Church in 1943. Catherine had witnessed the inroads that Communism was making in the world. She warned people that atheism would destroy their human dignity, but few listened. Catherine became totally convinced that only Christ’s Gospel would bring the justice and peace so needed by the