Mary, Untier of Knots

Mary, Untier of Knots

Early in the morning I was rushing to great dressed while keeping one eye on the clock hoping that I wouldn't be late for Mass and fearing that I was losing the battle against time.  Each morning I slip my wedding ring on my finger and clasp my favorite necklace around my throat before I rush out the door. No matter how many layers of clothing I put on to adjust to the weather outside, I'm not fully dressed without my wedding ring and my necklace.  The chain of my necklace holds four symbols of my faith that are as much a part of me as my wedding ring-I wear the emblem of the Oblates of the Precious Blood, a Miraculous Medal, a cross with a dove on it which was the first gift my husband ever gave to me so many years ago when we were dating, and a red sea glass heart which I stumbled across on a beach hunt while I was praying a novena to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.  The sea glass heart is one of my most prized possessions because I felt it was a sign of love from Jesus Himself just for me.  I had it blessed by Bishop Hying, wrapped it in wire and wear it every day, frequently reaching up to touch it and offer a silent prayer of trust to the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Well on this particularly hectic morning, as I reached for my necklace, I found a huge knot in the chain.  I fumbled around with it a bit but didn't have any luck in undoing the knot.  So I shoved my necklace into my pocket and headed out to Mass.  After Mass I like to stay in the silent church to make a little holy hour, but this time instead of praying my usual prayers or walking the Stations of the Cross, I silently sat and tried to gently work the knot out of that chain.  My attempt to untie the knot became my prayer that day.  I thought about how our wonderful new Pope Francis has a devotion to Mary, and recently I learned that he prays to her as the Untier of Knots, and so, not knowing too much about her under this title, but being inspired by Pope Francis, I turned to her in prayer asking for her assistance not only with the knot in my necklace, but also for her guidance in helping me work through the other knots and problems in my life that could benefit from her loving, motherly attention. 

After 15 minutes of praying with my knotted necklace, I gave up that prayer for the time being, tucked the necklace back into my pocket and returned to my normal daily prayers.  Later, upon returning home, I took a paper clip and used it's sharp point to finally free the knot from the chain.  Sometimes our problems require not the only patience and perseverance that comes from setting them aside for a while, but also a sharp instrument to cut to the heart of the issue and finally bring about a resolution.  In the story that makes up our lives, we often find that the sharp instrument could come in the form of a hardship or suffering that we must learn to accept before we can finally be free to fully love the Lord and turn back from the sinfulness that often becomes knotted within our souls. And the Blessed Mother is a sure help to us as we work through those knots.

We are always at an advantage when we turn to our Blessed Mother for assistance, aren't we?  How sweetly she helps us work out our problems all the while pointing to God from whom all of our help originates.  To learn more about Mary, Untier of Knots, visit here.

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. (Prayer by Scott R. Richert)