Our Lady Undoer of Knots

As the Mother of God, Mary is the best advocate we have on earth and she will always bring our intentions to the throne of her Son. A favorite devotion of Pope Francis, Mary Undoer of Knots is the perfect patron for the complicated situations of our lives today.

The knots represent the troubles and trials in our lives and the sins which separate us from God. Use this powerful devotion to ease the difficult situations in your own life, or for loved ones who need hope.

The devotion to Mary, Undoer of Knots, has become widespread and efficacious in the resolution of marital and family conflicts in addition to other difficulties. The thorny problems that Mary can “undo” include situations we encounter that seem to have no solution -- knots of discord in the family; lack of understanding between parents and children; the knots of deep hurt between husband and wife; disrespect, abuse, and violence in the home, or the absence of peace and joy. There are also the knots of anguish and despair of separated couples, the disruption within the family; the knots of sickness, separation from home or God; the knots of alcoholism, drug addiction, abortion, depression, unemployment, economic hardship, fear, solitude -- any problem where we see no clear resolution. These knots suffocate our soul, beat us down, betray our heart’s joy, and separate us from God.

Mary comes to us with the promise of victory, peace, blessings, and reconciliation. She comes as the Queen of Mercy, the one who knows all about us, who has compassion for us, and hurries to rescue us, praying for each one of us to Her beloved Jesus.

New Title

The devotion to Mary, Undoer (or Untier) of Knots, though not new, has become popular because of Pope Francis. While studying in Germany in the 1980s, he came across a painting that depicts Mary patiently undoing the knots in a long wedding ribbon. To him, the painting showed how Mary can help us with the knots and tangles of our lives. He took postcards of the painting back with him to Argentina, and later had replicas of the painting hung in chapels and churches to spread the devotion. When he became pope, more people were inspired to take up this devotion to ask Mary for her help under this title.

The original painting, by Johan Schmidtner (1700), was commissioned by a priest named Father Hieronymus Langenmantel to honor Mary for a favor received by his grandparents Wolfgang and Sophie. They were on the brink of divorce when his grandfather sought counsel from a Jesuit priest, Father Jakob Rem, who was known for his great devotion to Our Lady. It was the custom of the time to bind the hands of the couple with a white ribbon during the nuptial mass as a symbol of their lifelong union. During one of their sessions, Fr. Rem raised up their wedding ribbon before an image of Mary, and prayed while untying the knots. When he finished untying the last knot, the ribbon miraculously became dazzlingly white. This was interpreted that their prayers were heard. Wolfgang and Sofie reunited, and continued their marriage happily.

Since 1700, the painting has been venerated in the Church of St. Peter in Perlack, Augsburg, Germany. The artist inspired by the couple’s story depicted Mary untying the knots of the ribbon of married life. He also included Mary crushing the serpent as the Immaculate Conception. Saint Irenaeus (Bishop of Lyon and martyred in 202) used the comparison of the knot to parallel Eve and Mary, to remind us that Mary undoes the knot of sin:

“Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it . . . Mary set us free through faith.”