To show us the mission granted to the Virgin Mary by Her Son, an unknown artist painted Mary Undoer of Knots with great grace. Since 1700, his painting has been venerated in the Church of St. Peter in Perlack, Germany.
It was originally inspired by a meditation of Saint Irenaeus, Bishop of Lyon, martyred in 202, based on the parallel made by Saint Paul between Adam and Christ.
Saint Irenaeus 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."
But what are these knots?
The knots are any problem or struggle in families which appears to have no solution: discord, division, lack of understanding, disrespect, violence, deep hurts, lack of peace and joy in the home, anguish and despair of broken families, drug or alcohol addiction, sickness, separation from family or from God, fear, abortion, depression, unemployment, loneliness. These knots weigh us down and separate us from God.
Gaze at the picture of Mary Undoer of Knots.
Two angels stand out. One of them holds on to a ribbon, the ribbon of our lives, full of knots big and small. One angel, holding onto the ribbon of our life and gives it to Mary, the Undoer of Knots saying, “We trust you, Mother; You can help us. Undo the knots of our lives!” Then, Mary takes our life into her holy hands and with her long fingers of mercy goes on to undo each knot, one after the other. Look at her and feel her love and tenderness as she looks at you, her beloved child. Watch and see what happens. The ribbon becomes free of knots, through the mercy and holiness of Mary Undoer of Knots. The other angel comes to us taking the smooth ribbon of our lives, Look at what Mary does through her intercession. Trust her and place your lives in her hands.
The Novena to Mary Undoer of Knots brings hope when we we put our lives in our Mother’s hands. Mary stayed during nine days surrounded by the Apostles in the cenacle, the Upper Room, praying for the Presence of the Holy Spirit. Through her prayer, she taught us to have faith, to persevere and not to be discouraged. The Mother of God prayed and gave courage to the Apostles to pray for nine days that they would receive the Holy Spirit.
O Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us.
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