Mary Undoer of Knots

mary-unoder-of-knots

I found the best helper in Mary Undoer of Knots. This is an image of Jesus’ mother surrounded by angels, all of whom are untying the knots of earthly problems. This image—and the prayers inspired by it—have been making the rounds in Catholic circles, partly because it’s a favorite of Pope Francis. When the pope visited Philadelphia, a temporary Mary Undoer of Knots grotto was erected in his honor. This wire-frame structure was strewn with strips of cloth, on which people hand wrote their trouble and tied knots into the fabric. The pope blessed the grotto, and invited visitors to add their own knotted cloth while untying someone else’s.

The original Mary Undoer of Knots artwork is an oil painting on poplar wood, created by a German artist in the 1700s (some accounts describe the painter as anonymous, others credit Johann Melchior Georg Schmittdner). In the image, Mary holds a knotted ribbon in her hands and, with a look of great ease, slides her fingers through the heart of a triple-tied knot, teasing it loose. Meanwhile, angels surround her, making up a celestial assembly line. One feeds her a length of knotted fabric from the right. Another guides away the untangled ribbon from the left.

At first glance, Mary and her busy band of angels may appear a bit saccharine in their Baroque style. Mary’s regal blue robe billows like a hero’s cape or a supermodel’s scarf. Stars encircle her head, and a dove representing the Holy Spirit and its wisdom floats just so at the top center. It’s all very stylized and perfect. And yet I find great comfort in seeing this all-star superhero team making short work of my problems.

There are earthy elements of the painting that escaped me at first glance—these suggest Mary is not that far above, or away from, the knots we all face. While Mary is indeed elegant, she’s also got one ladylike leg in the muck of life. This moxy Mary effortlessly tamps down a serpent’s head with her foot like it’s nothing at all. Serpent under control, check. Knots that seem as deadly as a snakebite—yep, she’s got that, too.

(Author: Jennifer Szweda Jordan – Read whole article here)

Prayer for Personal Troubles

Mother of fair love, I look to you.
Take into your hands the ribbon of my life,
and see the snarl of knots that keeps me bound
to sin, anxiety, and hopelessness.
I beg you, Mother, by your powerful intercession
and long fingers of love and grace,
undo the knots in my heart and in my life.
Free me to love as Christ loves.
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.

 

Prayer for the Strengthening of Marriages

Blessed Mother, take into your hands
the knots that affect married couples,
and with your long fingers of love and grace
undo these knots for the glory of God.
Visit married couples with your grace;
renew their sacramental covenant,
increase God’s love in them,
and strengthen their bond of peace
so that, with their children,
they may always rejoice in the gift of your blessing.
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us

 

Pope Francis’ Prayer to Mary Undoer of Knots

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 of tying you up with his confusion.

Once with your Son you interceded for our difficulties, and full of kindness and patience, you gave us example of how to untie the knots in 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 a motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands (the name of the person), and to free him/her of the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks.

Through your grace, your intercession and your example deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, may have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. Amen.

___________________

 

To access full novena click here

Novena Guided Novena Meditation Mary Undoer Of Knots Novena

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