Mary, Undoer of Knots – a Novena Adapted for Steven Donziger and the People of the Ecuadorian Amazon If everything is related, then the health of a society’s institutions has consequences for the environment and the quality of human life. ‘Every violation of solidarity and civic friendship harms the environment.’ (Caritas in Veritate, 51) In this sense, social ecology is necessarily institutional, and gradually extends to the whole of society, from the primary social group, the family, to the wider local, national, and international communities. Within each social stratum, and between them, institutions develop to regulate human relationships. Anything which weakens those institutions has negative consequences, such as injustice, violence and loss of freedom. (Laudato Si, 142) [CALL FOR PRAYER] After generations of struggle, the indigenous people of the Ecuadorian Amazon have successfully traversed the international legal system to achieve a measure of justice for generations of deliberate dumping of petrochemicals into Amazon. These actions, one of the Earth’s most important ecosystems. However, there remains many knots to untie to realize this justice. Prayers for justice, fortitude, temperance, and prudence are needed to sustain a global community of advocates for these marginalized people. [STRUCTURE] For nine days, beginning May 1, 2021, we will join together around the world to pray. We will use as our guide the devotion to MARY, UNDOER OF KNOTS. This novena has been adapted to invite not only those familiar with the Catholic practice of this Marian devotion but also to welcome all of those from other faith traditions and places of spiritual good-will. [PROCESS] You are invited to join with us spiritually on your own time schedule MAY 1 – MAY 9 (the eve of the trial in a SLAPP lawsuit filed by the Chevron Corporation against human rights lawyer Steven Donziger). [YOUR PART] A dedication to committing to the common prayer of this novena over the course of nine-days. This commitment is described in the rubric on PAGE TWO and can typically be fulfilled in about 10-15 minutes a day. Please feel free to keep your commitment private, but should you like to share an indication of your support with Steven you can do so by email at [email protected] or on Twitter at @SDonziger. Steven will certainly share these expressions of love and support with all those he serves. [ORIGIN OF THE NOVENA] “St. Irenaeus was the first to reference Our Lady as the undoer of knots. In his famous work, Against Heresies, he wrote, ‘the knot of Eve’s disobedience was loosed by the obedience of Mary. For what the virgin, Eve, had bound fast through unbelief, this did the virgin Mary set free through faith.’ Devotion to Mary under this title was originally unique to Germany, but after the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant disaster in 1986, the devotion became more widespread through Europe.” Source: Understanding Mary, Undoer of Knots: How an obscure German painting became the world’s fastest growing Marian devotion and is changing lives today, Steubenville Press, 2013. continued from page one... Mary, Undoer of Knots – a Novena Adapted for Steven Donziger and the People of the Ecuadorian Amazon NOTE: We recommend use of a traditional rosary, a knotted cord or string with 10 knots, or any other tool that helps with counting during meditation. Click to select the day you wish to jump to: Day 1 Day 6 Day 2 Day 7 Day 3 Day 8 Day 4 Day 9 Day 5 ~ ~ ~ Day 1 commences on next page... DAY 1 TOP Recite the following items 1. “In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Sign of the Cross) 2. “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Act of Contrition) 3. Solemnly recite the words below while meditating on the particular virtue noted: • “Hail, Mary” (10 times, while holding each knot or bead) and meditating on HUMILITY. • “Hail, Mary” (10 times, while holding each knot or bead) and meditating on CHARITY. • “Hail, Mary” (10 times, while holding each knot or bead) and meditating on POVERTY. (Decades 1-3 of the Rosary) 4. Daily Petition and Intention 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, these knots: • Steven’s ability to share his story with Judge Loretta Preska, through his own direct testimony or through that of his advocates, in such a way that she may be receptive to hearing it. • May Steven’s soul be opened and his spirit encouraged in his call to use his life and his gifts to advocate for those most vulnerable AND that the people he serves may trust in the community of love that stands with him to lift up the promise of dignity and justice for all. • May this novena find a way to bring peace, love, and reconciliation to all the souls whose lives have been affected by the knots of injustice in this case. I give you these knots that torment us and impede the uniting of so many to You and Your Son Jesus, my Savior. I run to you, Mary, Undoer of Knots because I trust you and I know that you never despise a sinning child who comes to ask for help. I believe that you can undo these knots because Jesus grants to everything. I believe that you want to undo these knots because you are my Mother and because you love me with eternal love. Thank you, Dear Mother. Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us. The one who seeks grace, finds it in Mary’s hands. 5. Solemnly recite the words “Hail, Mary” 10 times (while holding each knot or bead) and meditating on the virtue of OBEDIENCE, then 10 times on the virtue of PIETY. (Decades 4 and 5 of the Rosary) 6. Concluding Prayer: 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 the knots that I have presented to you. You know very well how desperate the situation is and how so much pain is bound by these knots. Mary, Mother to whom God entrusted the undoing of the knots of in the lives of His children, I entrust into your hands the ribbons of my life and the ribbons those for whom I pray. No one, not even the evil one himself, con 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 these knots. I beg you to undo them for the glory of God, once and 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 pleas. Keep me, guide me, protect me, O safe refuge. Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me. ~ ~ ~ back to top Day 2 begins on next page... DAY 2 TOP Recite the following items 1. “In the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit” (Sign of the Cross) 2. “Lord, have mercy on me, a sinner” (Act of Contrition) 3. Solemnly recite the words below while meditating on the particular virtue noted: • “Hail, Mary” (10 times, while holding each knot or bead) and meditating on HUMILITY. • “Hail, Mary” (10 times, while holding each knot or bead) and meditating on CHARITY. • “Hail, Mary” (10 times, while holding each knot or bead) and meditating on POVERTY. (Decades 1-3 of the Rosary) 4. Daily Petition and Intention Mary, Beloved Mother, channel of all grace, I return to You today my heart, recognizing that I am a sinner in need of your help. Many times, I lose the graces you grant me because of my sins of egoism, pride, rancor and my lack of generosity and humility. I turn to You today, Mary Undoer of Knots, for You to ask your Son Jesus to grant me a pure, divested, humble and trusting heart. I will live today practicing these virtues and offering you this as a sign of my love for You. I entrust into Your hands these knots: • Steven’s ability to share his story with Judge Loretta Preska, through his own direct testimony or through that of his advocates, in such a way that she may be receptive to hearing it. • May Steven’s soul be opened and his spirit encouraged in his call to use his life and his gifts to advocate for those most vulnerable AND that the people he serves may trust in the community of love that stands with him to lift up the promise of dignity and justice for all. • May this novena find a way to bring peace, love, and reconciliation to all the souls whose lives have been affected by the knots of injustice in this case. I give you these knots which often keep us from reflecting on the glory of God. Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for us. Mary offered all the moments of her day to God. 5. Solemnly recite the words “Hail, Mary” 10 times (while holding each knot or bead) and meditating on the virtue of OBEDIENCE, then 10 times on the virtue of PIETY.