They Called Her the Baroness: The Life of Catherine De Hueck Doherty

by Lorene Hanley Duquin

Born into the luxury of Russian nobility, condemned to death during the Bolshevik Revolution, Catherine de Hueck Doherty remains an enigma ten years after her death.This is the story of the foundress of the Friendship & Madonna Houses throughout the world.

Genres: Biography, Spirituality

334 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 1995

Reviews

[Rachel Wong · Rating 5 out of 5]

(5⭐️) I read this book after finishing Fragments of My Life (Catherine’s autobiography) and was so blown away by the depth of her life story. Told from an outsider’s point of view, there are many more details that are shared here that Fragments alludes to. What an incredible story of a woman who loved God and never gave up on His calling for her, no matter the cost.

[Julie Reiter · Rating 4 out of 5]

My son Luke nominated this book to my 2025 reading list. It is a biography of Catherine de Hueck Doherty who was born a Russian aristocrat, lived through the perils of the Bolshevik Revolution, WW I, the Great Depression, WWII, and the Civil Rights movement of the 1960s. She married her first cousin Boris, a good for nothing cheating husband and he and Catherine escaped Russia and ultimately fled to Canada where she founded the Friendship House. From there she traveled to the United States and founded additional Friendship Houses in Harlem, New York and Chicago, Illinois. Her message was live the gospels. She focused her work with helping the poor, the immigrants, and the minorities but she herself didn’t always practice that. She encountered, or perhaps caused, many controversies doing her spiritual work and ultimately returned to Canada where she founded the Madonna House with the same mission, to help the poor and live the gospel. This book really scratched the surface of her life. Catherine and her first husband, Boris, had a son, George, and Catherine more or less abandoned George when he was young boy to embark on her spiritual mission, something that seeded bitterness in George (understandably so). Catherine received an annulment of her first marriage and ultimately married Eddie, who shared in her spiritual work. Later Eddie decided he wanted to be a priest and they both took a vow of celibacy. Eddie, still married to Catherine but both being under a vow of celibacy, was ultimately ordained a Catholic priest in Canada (very strange indeed). When I started this book I skipped reading the introduction (which I usually don’t do). After finishing this book I had such a controversy in my mind as to whether this woman was a sham or destined for sainthood. I read the introduction only to find out that I was not alone in struggling with this question. I did research beyond this book and the Madonna House is still operating today, with several houses in the United States, the closest in Salem Missouri. Catherine’s case has been opened for consideration for canonization by the Catholic Church and she has been given the title Servant of God. Her life story is interesting but I think this biography only scratched the surface of who Catherine really was. She definitely was not shy about saying what she thought and I wish the book would have gone into more details about that.

[Anne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A lady from the Madonna House gave me this book when I confessed I knew very little about their ministry or founders.

On the surface, I presumed that Catherine and I would have little in common, with perhaps a shared faith in Jesus to carry me through the story. I was not prepared for the story I got, or to be so charmed by the Baroness and her faith.

Not only was I incredibly invested in the rich history of the Madonna House and the passions and struggles it took to build, but I was easily moved by Catherine’s personal struggles and feelings of inadequacy. This story proves to me how much Jesus can do in someone’s life if they had the faith of a mustard seed.

I highly recommend this book to all Catholics and Christians. Catherine's story and the story about this ministry that continues to this day is truly God's work that should not go unnoticed!

[sare · Rating 4 out of 5]

A fascinating story of the life of a difficult woman who lived a difficult, restless life but at the end of her life found peace and stability.

[E · Rating 5 out of 5]

"A book well worth reading, but be aware: once you start it you will be glued to its pages until you finish. -- Reta Lienhardt, The Bread of Life In every century there are a few individuals whose lives boggle the imagination. Catherine de Hueck Doherty was such a person. Her life is now carefully recorded with professional objectivity. I'm sure you'll find that she led an extraordinary life, one filled with miracles of grace and love. I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did." --Fr. John Catoir of the Christopher's

[Jaye · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a biography that reads like a wild suspense story! Doherty's life was truly amazing. I think the author treated very fairly the controversy that seemed to plague this woman, as well as committing to paper with great flair the many experiences Doherty had in her life. My interest has truly been piqued and I have been inspired to begin stocking Madonna House Publications in my little bookstore

[Ellen · Rating 5 out of 5]

A controversial woman with a deep spirituality and love for the poor.