United States Catholic Catechism for Adults

THE FIRST

COMMANDMENT:

BELIEVE IN THE

TRUE GOD

“I, THE

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 toTheodore and Emma Kolychkine,

a wealthy couple who were deeply religious members of the Russian

Orthodox Church. From her earliest years, Catherine accompanied her

mother in bringing food, medicine, and clothing to less fortunate neigh-

bors. 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 world,