Undoer of Knots
ONE
As we draw closer to Christmas, the Church draws our attention to Our Lady and the details leading up to Jesus’ birth. In Luke we read; “Mary set out and went as quickly as she could to a town in the hill country of Judah. She went into Zechariah’s house and greeted Elizabeth. Now as soon as Elizabeth heard Mary’s greeting, the child leapt in her womb and Elizabeth was filled with the Holy Spirit. She gave a loud cry and said, ‘Of all women you are the most blessed, and blessed is the fruit of your womb. Why should I be honored with a visit from the mother of my Lord? For the moment your greeting reached my ears, the child in my womb leapt for joy. Yes, blessed is she who believed that the promise made by her by the Lord would be fulfilled” (Lk 1:39-ff.) I can’t help but notice the joy that bursts forth from the scene. And we, are we ready to receive the Lord with such joy this Christmas?
TWO
The devil wants to destroy your joy. Too many people, especially young people, are suffering because they’ve grown up in an isolated world disconnected from love and meaning. The result is a plague of loneliness and despair. I recently encountered the story of an exorcist who was trying to deliver a young woman who was trapped in demonic confusion. She wrote to the exorcist this note; “I was locked in a maze of confusion. People get trapped there…I was stuck. I never felt so dark, alone, and sad” (excerpt from catholicexorcism.org). Further, she said she received a vision that showed her that countless other souls were experiencing the same thing. The exorcist freed her, but only through the help of the Blessed Mother. For this reason and others, the Pope has been encouraging devotion to Mary under a centuries-old title, Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, precisely to battle against these kinds of temptations.
THREE
This devotion began in the early years of the 17th century. A married man in Bavaria considered a separation from his wife — a truly radical notion at the time. In his confusion and despair, he sought counsel from a Jesuit priest. The priest prayed for the couple through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. His simple prayer was this; “In this religious act, I raise unto you the bonds of matrimony and beg you to untie all the knots and make them smooth.” Miraculously, this prayer was answered. The couple reconciled and remained together for the rest of their lives. Their grandson became a priest, and commissioned a painting to commemorate this devotion. He called it, Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. (The picture is in the show notes.) During this last week of Advent, let us begin praying to Our Lady under this title for our own moral maze’s we get stuck in, as well as for the countless others who have no one praying for them, and nowhere to turn.
FOUR
Mary helps us as a powerful Mother, bringing Jesus to us to free us from our captivity and heal us from our wounds. Advent is a time to prepare so that our hearts are opened to receive a new coming of Jesus, who frees and heals. This is why Elizabeth and John the Baptist leapt for joy. This week, slow down, think about one part of your life that needs healing—it could be a relationship, a past hurt or sin, a financial struggle, illness, whatever it may be—and bring it to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots with confidence. In this way, you will prepare and open your heart to receive blessings of liberty, healing, and joy!
FIVE
We close with this special prayer to The Undoer of Knots. Although there are many devotions you can find under this title, I have nevertheless found it effective to pray the following prayer at the end of these Rosary podcasts to undo problems and pain.
Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots in the lives of His children, I entrust into your hands the ribbon of my life.
No one, not even the evil one himself, can take it away from your precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone.
Powerful Mother, by your grace and intercessory power with Your Son and My Liberator, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot (here mention it)...I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all, You are my hope.
O my Lady, you are the only consolation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble strength, the enrichment of my destitution and with Christ the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea.
Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge!
Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.
