I WAS introduced to Our Lady Untier Knots when I was reading a spiritual book lent by Rose Ramos and there was a stampita of Our Lady Untier of Knots. I was so fascinated by it that I looked more into this devotion to the Blessed Mother. This was about six to eight years ago.
I couldn’t find any images of Our Lady Untier of Knots but I did find novenas as I searched the internet. Whenever I would bring it up with my friends in the religious circles, no one has heard of this devotion.
Artist Johann Melchior Georg Schmittdner painted Mary Undoer of Knots with great grace. Since 1700, his painting has been venerated in the Church of St. Peter in Perlack, Augsburg, Germany. It was originally inspired by a meditation of Saint Irenaeusa Bishop of Lyon and martyred in 202.
Saint Irenaeus, in turn, made a comparison between Eve and Mary, saying “Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it.”
This is one of the earliest examples of describing Mary as the “New Eve.” Eve, standing next to Adam, is the “co-peccatrix” (co-sinner) Mary, standing next to Christ crucified, is the “co-redemptrix” (co-redemptress).
This does not mean that Mary directly saves or redeems us. It means that Mary consents and participates in the redemptive action of Christ. Her role is congruent and relative to the condign and absolute role of Christ.
In the 18th century, the devotion to Mary Untier of Knots was localized to Germany. The devotion was augmented during the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 1986, when victims sought help through the intercession of Mary Untier of Knots. The first chapel to be named Mary Untier of Knots was constructed in 1989 in Styria, Austria.
The image of Mary Untier of Knots at the main altar of the chapel was created by painter Franz Weiss, using the technique of painting under glass. It differed from the original, because the artist took as his theme the Chernobyl tragedy.
On December 8, 2000, a chapel dedicated to the Virgin Mary Untier of Knots was inaugurated in Formosa, Argentina. Since 1998, the devotion has been spreading in South America.
When Pope Francis came to the Philippines and spoke about Our Lady Untier of the Knots, she became more known. Pope Francis has been one of the chief promoters of “Our Lady Untier of Knots.”
His devotion started when he was studying in Germany and came upon the painting. He acquired a copy of the painting and brought it to Argentina and promoted devotion to Mary under this title. Apparently it has caught fire with the faithful of Argentina.
The painting depicts Mary suspended between heaven and earth, resplendent with light. The Holy Spirit in the form of a dove is above her head, reminding us that she became Mother of God and full of grace by virtue of the third person of the Trinity. She is dressed resplendently in crimson, and a deep blue mantle representing her glory as Queen of the Universe.
A crown of twelve starsadorning her head signifies her Queenship of the Apostles. Her feet crush the head of the serpent indicating her part in the victory over Satan. She is surrounded by angels, signifying her position as Queen of the Angels and Queen of Heaven.
In her hands is a knotted white ribbon, which she is serenely untying. Assisting her at the task are two angels: one presents the knots of our lives to her, while another angel presents the ribbon, freed from knots, to us.
So what are these knots that Our Lady unravels?
There are the problems and struggles we face for which we do not see any 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.
There are also the knots of anguish and despair of separated couples, the dissolution of the family, the knots of a drug addict son or daughter, sick or separated from home or God, knots of alcoholism, the practice of abortion, depression, unemployment, fear, solitude… In short, the knots of our life! They suffocate the soul, beat us down and betray the heart’s joy and separate us from God.
Pope Francis has used the symbolism of Our Lady Undoer of Knots to explain matters of the faith. The knots represent the sins that separate us from God, and Our Lady, in untying them, brings us closer to God.
As the Pope has said “Mary, whose ‘yes’ opened the door for God to undo the knot of the ancient disobedience, is the Mother who patiently and lovingly brings us to God, so that he can untangle the knots of our soul by His fatherly mercy.”
It is said that Pope Francis often meets with his guests at the Vatican under this painting of Our Lady Undoer of Knots. He wants to keep her close!
If you have knots in your lives try saying this prayer to “Our Lady: Dearest Holy Mother, Most Holy Mary, You undo the knots that suffocate your children, extend Your merciful hands to me. I entrust to you today this knot and all the negative consequences that it provokes in my life. I give You this knot that torments me and makes me unhappy and so impedes me from uniting myself to You and Your Son Jesus, my Savior. I run to You, Mary, Undoer of Knots because I trust you and I know that you never despise a sinning child who comes to ask you for help. I believe that you can undo this knot because Jesus grants You everything. I believe that you want to undo this knot because you are my Mother. I believe that You will do this because you love me with eternal love.”
Thank you, Dear Mother.
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Amen.