Our Lady Untier of Knots: Maria Als Knotenlöserin
THE KNOTS ARE?
The knots are the problems and struggles we face for which we see no solution. Knots of discord in your family; lack of understanding between parents and children; disrespect, violence; the knots of deep hurts between husband and wife; the absence of peace and joy at home. They are also the knots of anguish and despair of separated couples; the knots of a drug addict son or daughter, sick or separated from home or God; knots of alcoholism; abortion, pornography, depression, unemployment, fear, solitude. The knots of our life! How they suffocate the soul, betray the heart’s joy and separate us from God. Mary who undoes the knots, wants to undo the knots of our sins which dominate our lives, so that we can receive the good things reserved for us in heaven.
Mary comes to us today with the infinite love of a mother and moved by her extraordinary power of intercession through her Son Jesus. We pray:
NOVENA PRAYER
Holy Mary, full of God’s presence during the days of your life, you accepted with full humility the Father’s will, and the Devil was never capable to tie you around with his confusion. Once with your son you intercede for our difficulties, and, full of kindness and patience you gave us your example of how to untie the knots of our life. By remaining forever our Mother, you put in order, and make more clear the ties that link us to the Lord.
Holy Mother, Mother of God, and our Mother, to you, who untie with motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands (here mention your intention) and to free us from the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks us. Through your grace, your intercession, and your example, deliver us from all danger and evil.
Our Lady untie the knots that prevent us being totally united with God, so that we may find Him in all things, that our hearts may always love him, and that we may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. Amen.
O Immaculate Lady, Untier of Knots pray for us (repeat three times).
HISTORY
Pope Francis’ devotion to Our Lady Untier of Knots is traced back to his time as a student in Germany when he came upon the early XVIII century painting by Johann Schmidtner Inspired by this meditation, the Bavarian Marian painter depicted the Blessed Virgin undoing the knots of our lives. By contemplating this painting of Mary Who Unties Knots, we see that she emerges as the figure Saint John writes of in Revelation 12: “Now a great sign appeared from Heaven: a woman robed with the sun, standing on the moon, and on her head a crown of twelve stars.” Entrust the knots of our life into the hands of the Blessed Virgin Mary with confidence and hope. Approach her throne of grace, with the certainty that you will be heard. We have an infallible intercessor whose prayers are always answered by her Son Jesus. Since 1700, the painting of our Lady has been venerated in the Church of St. Peter in Perlack, Augsburg, Germany. It was inspired by a meditation of St. Irenaeus (Bishop of Lyon and martyred in 202 AD): ‘Eve by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, untied it’.
