History of the Devotion & Image Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots The Apostles' Creed Novena to In the early years of the 17th century, a young cou- Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, Mother who never I believe in God, the Father almighty, Creator of ple in Germany was experiencing marital difficulties refuses to come to the aid of a child in need, Mother Heaven and Earth, and in Jesus Christ, His only Son, and were on the brink of divorce. The husband, Wolf- whose hands never cease to serve your beloved chil- our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born Our Lady, gang Langenmantel, sought counsel from a Jesuit dren because they are moved by the divine love and of the Virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was priest named Fr. Jakob Rem. Fr. Rem was known for immense mercy that exists in your heart, cast your crucified, died and was buried; He descended into Undoer of Knots his great devotion to Our Lady. compassionate eyes upon me and see the snarl of Hell; on the third day He rose again from the dead; A local custom at the time used a special ribbon knots that exist in my life. You know very well how He ascended into heaven, and is seated at the right during the wedding ceremony which bound the hands desperate I am, my pain, and how I am bound by hand of God the Father almighty; from there He will of the couple during the Nuptial Mass. After their mar- these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the come to judge the living and the dead. I believe in the riage, Sophie, Wolfgang’s wife, had tied a knot in the undoing of the knots in the lives of his children, I en- Holy Spirit, the holy, catholic Church, the communion ribbon after every argument with her husband. On his trust into your hands the ribbon of my life. No one, not of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of fourth visit to Fr. Rem, Wolfgang brought the knotted even the Evil One himself, can take it away from your the body, and life everlasting. Amen. wedding ribbon. Fr. Rem raised the ribbon before an precious care. In your hands there is no knot that cannot be undone. Powerful Mother, by your grace The Our Father image of “Our Lady of the Snows” and prayed while Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name; untying the knots. After all of the knots were untied, and intercessory power with Your Son and My Libera- the ribbon appeared as dazzling white as it was on tor, Jesus, take into your hands today this knot: thy kingdom come; thy will be done on earth as it is in Wolfgang’s and Sophie’s wedding day. The couple [Mention your request here] heaven. Give us this day our daily bread; and forgive remained happily married and their divorce was I beg you to undo it for the glory of God, once for all. us our trespasses as we forgive those who trespass averted. You are my hope. O my Lady, you are the only con- against us; and lead us not into temptation, but de- solation God gives me, the fortification of my feeble In thanksgiving for this family blessing, Fr. Hierony- liver us from evil. Amen strength, the enrichment of my destitution, and, with mus Langenmantel, the grandson of Wolfgang and Christ, the freedom from my chains. Hear my plea. The Hail Mary Sophie, commissioned Johann Schmidtner to create Keep me, guide me, protect me, o safe refuge! Hail Mary, full of grace, the Lord is with you; blessed a painting of this event. This painting still hangs today are you among women, and blessed is the fruit of Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. in the church of St. Peter am Perlach in Augsberg, your womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God, pray Germany. for us sinners now and at the hour of our death. Act of Contrition Amen. Pope Francis My God, I am sorry for my sins with all my heart. & Our Lady, Undoer of Knots In choosing to do wrong and failing to do good, I The Glory Be While studying for his doctorate in Germany in have sinned against you whom I should love above all Glory be to the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit; 1986, Pope Francis (then Fr. Jorge Bergoglio) visited things. I firmly intend, with your help, to do penance, as it was in the beginning, is now, and ever shall be, St. Peter am Perlach Church in Augsberg where he to sin no more, and to avoid whatever leads me to world without end. Amen. saw the painting of Our Lady Undoer of Knots. The sin. The Hail Holy Queen image and story captivated him. He brought copies of Our Savior Jesus Christ suffered and died for us. In Hail, holy Queen, mother of mercy, our life, our the image home with him to Argentina. The devotion his name, my God, have mercy. sweetness, and our hope. To you we cry, poor ban- to Our Lady Undoer of Knots spread throughout his ished children of Eve; to you we send up our sighs, country. He composed this prayer in her honor: To learn more, or mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn, “Through your grace, your intercession, and your for more informa- then, most gracious advocate, your eyes of mercy example, deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and tion & resources toward us; and after this, our exile, show unto us the ve, by her disobedience, tied untie the knots that prevent us from being united blessed fruit of your womb, Jesus. O clement, O lov- about this devo- the knot of disgrace for the with God, so that we, free from sin and error, ing, O sweet Virgin Mary. “E may find him in all things, may have our hearts tion and the im- human race; whereas Mary, by Pray for us, Most Holy Mother of God, that we may placed in him, and may serve him always in our age, visit: be made worthy of the promises of Christ. Amen. her obedience, undid it. brothers and sisters.” saintlouisparish.org/ourladyknots St.” Irenaeus Instructions: offering you this as a sign of my love for You. I for them, may I smile trustingly in your power. have had with them, and I proclaim Jesus as my 1.Begin with the Sign of the Cross. entrust into Your hands this knot: Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. one and only Lord and Savior. Mary, Undoer of 2.Make an Act of Contrition. [Mention your request here] Knots, crush the Evil One’s head and destroy the Meditation for the Fifth Week 3.Pray the first 3 decades of the Rosary (optional). which keeps me from reflecting the glory of God. traps he has set for me by this knot. Thank you, 4.Pray the Meditation of the Week. Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. Mother, Undoer of Knots, generous and com- dearest Mother. Most Precious Blood of Jesus, passionate, I come to You today to once again 5.Pray the last 2 decades of the Rosary (optional). free me! 6.Pray the Prayer to Mary, Undoer of Knots. Meditation for the Third Week entrust this knot: Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. 7.End with the Sign of the Cross Meditating Mother, Queen of heaven, in whose [Mention your request here] hands the treasures of the King are found, turn in my life to you and to ask the divine wisdom to Meditation for the Eighth Week Ϯ your merciful eyes upon me today. I entrust into undo, under the light of the Holy Spirit, this snarl Virgin Mother of God, overflowing with mercy, Meditation for the First Week your holy hands this knot in my life [Mention your of problems. No one ever saw you angry; to the have mercy on your child and undo this knot Dearest Holy Mother, Most Holy Mary, you request here] and all the rancor and resentment it contrary, your words were so charged with [Mention your request here] undo the knots that suffocate your children. Ex- has caused in me. I ask Your forgiveness, God sweetness that the Holy Spirit was manifested on in my life. I need your visit to my life, like you vis- tend your merciful hands to me. I entrust to You the Father, for my sin. Help me now to forgive all your lips. Take away from me the bitterness, an- ited Elizabeth. Bring me Jesus, bring me the Holy today this knot: the persons who consciously or unconsciously ger, and hatred which this knot has caused me. Spirit. Teach me to practice the virtues of cour- [Mention your request here] provoked this knot. Give me, also, the grace to Give me, O dearest Mother, some of the sweet- age, joyfulness, humility, and faith, and, like and all the negative consequences that it pro- forgive me for having provoked this knot. Only in ness and wisdom that is all silently reflected in Elizabeth, to be filled with the Holy Spirit. Make vokes in my life. I give you this knot that torments this way can You undo it. Before You, dearest your heart. And just as you were present at Pen- me joyfully rest on your bosom, Mary. I conse- me and makes me unhappy and so impedes me Mother, and in the name of Your Son Jesus, my tecost, ask Jesus to send me a new presence of crate you as my mother, queen, and friend.