Novena for the Intercession of Mary, Untier of Knots

As the school year begins and we prepare for the opening session of the Synod on Synodality of the Roman Catholic Church, we look at the many complexities, entangled conflicts, and faith-filled opportunities of our lives, Church, and world. We place these before God in prayer through the intercession of Our Lady the Untier of Knots.

The tradition of Our Lady Untier of Knots was established by Jesuit Jakob Rem, S.J., Sophia Rentz, and Wolfgang Langenmantel in the early 17th Century. Sophia and Wolfgang had come to Fr. Rem with assistance regarding their fractured relationship (which seemed beyond repair after many years of marriage). Jakob Rem S.J. asked them to contemplate Mary the Mother of God as a model for dealing with complex life difficulties that he called "knots." He prayed that the Holy Mary might "raise whatever binds this couple up, to untie all knots and smoothen them" and have God's grace allow them to grow in their relationship and work out any obstacles to a healthy, whole, and holy well-being among them.

Each day of our Novena to Our Lady Untier of Knots, members of our Saint Joseph's Community will offer a brief reflection on how our lives may be entangled in complications, strained relationships, and misdeeds. They will then offer these needs to God with the novena prayer, seeking the grace we need in whatever situation our "knots need untangling."

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You can also view the Novena from 2023 at the playlist here.

Novena Prayer to Mary, Untier of Knots

In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Dearest Mother Mary you know the difficulties that life may bring us as you dealt with many complications in your own life. From the time you found yourself as a young woman with child and subject to laws and customs that would leave you abandoned and without options. You watched your Son, Jesus, make hard choices for His mission that left Him vulnerable to attacks and dangers. You lived through the suffering and loss of your child as he was arrested and put to death via capital punishment. 

We come to you in our need and seek your understanding, compassion, and empathy. We ask that you intercede for us to obtain the Divine Grace and undo the knots that suffocate your children today. Extend your merciful hands to me. and us.  

I entrust to you today this "knot" [mention your request here] and all the negative consequences that it provokes in my life.

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 exist in your heart, cast your compassionate eyes upon me and our world. Share with us the wisdom to care for each other in a world broken by division, injustice, meanness, and fear. Be our model and inspiration to accept God's gifts of hope, faith, and love. Let us take note of the beauty, truth, and goodness around us as possible signs of God's outpouring of grace. 

Good and Gracious God, you gave us Mary as our model for living a hope-filled life to be co-laborers in Your Kingdom of Love. May we accept your graces to empower our good efforts to untangle the complex problems that stagnate our lives and prevent others from thriving.  

We ask this in Your most Holy Name Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen. 

Mother Mary, Untier of Knots, pray for us.