Powerful Intercessor for Marriages: Mary Untier of Knots

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While doing his doctrinal studies in theology in Germany in the 1980s, Pope Francis discovered a local devotion to “Mary Untier of Knots.” Since then, he has encouraged this powerful devotion that is based on a painting found in the church of St. Peter am Perlach, in Augsburg, Bavaria, Germany.

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 in a crimson gown, with a deep blue mantle representing her glory as Queen of the Universe. A crown of 12 stars adorns her head signifying her as Queen of the Apostles. Her feet crush the head of the serpent confirming 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 are two angels: one presents the knots of our lives to her, while another angel presents the ribbon, freed from knots, to us.

There is an interesting story behind this painting. A German nobleman, Wolfgang Langenmantel (1568-1637) was distraught when his wife Sophia wanted to divorce him. In an attempt to save their marriage, Wolfgang sought the counsel of Fr Jakob Rem, a Jesuit priest at the University of Ingolstadt. Fr. Rem had garnered great respect for his wisdom and piety. On his fourth visit in 28 days, Wolfgang brought his “wedding ribbon” to Fr Rem. During local marriage ceremonies at that time the maid-of-honor tied the arms of the bride and groom together with a ribbon to symbolize their indissoluble one-flesh union. Fr Rem took the ribbon and solemnly raised it before an image of Our Lady of the Snows while he untied its knots. Upon removing the last knot, the ribbon became dazzling white. This sign was taken as confirmation that Our Lady had heard their prayers. As a result of Fr. Rem’s prayers for the intercession of Our Lady in this situation, the Langenmantel’s marriage was healed.

In the year 1700, to commemorate the turn of the century Wolfgang’s grandson, Fr Hieronymus Langenmantel, Canon of St Peter am Perlach, installed a family altar in the church. He commissioned Johann George Melchior Schmidtner to create a painting to be placed over the altar. Inspired by the story of Wolfgang and Fr Rem, Schmidtner created this image which came to be venerated as Mary Untier of Knots.

We will be praying this novena for the strengthening of marriages over the next nine days. Will you join us in this prayer? We pray for an outpouring of God’s graces into all marriages through the intercession of Our Lady Untier of Knots.

Mary Untier of Knots Novena

Daily Opening Prayers:

Begin each day of the Novena to Mary, Untier of Knots, with the Sign of the Cross.
Make an Act of Contrition. You can use any form; simply ask God to pardon your sins and make a firm purpose of amendment not to commit them again.
Optional, but recommended: Pray the first three decades of the Rosary, with the appropriate mysteries for the day: Joyful, Sorrowful, Glorious, or Luminous.
Make the meditation for the particular day (as follows).

Daily Closing Prayers:

Optional, but recommended: Pray the last two decades of the rosary, with the appropriate mysteries for the day.
Pray the Prayer to Mary, Untier of Knots:

Prayer to Mary, Untier of Knots

Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother whose hands never cease to serve your beloved children because they are moved by the divine love and immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of knots that exist in my life. You know very well how desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by these knots. 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.

[Mention your request here]

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, Untier of Knots, pray for me. Amen.

Meditation for the First Day of the Novena to Mary, Untier of Knots

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 [mention your request here] 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, Untier 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.