We all have had moments in our lives when situations or events arise that are incredibly difficult, it seems like there is no way out and the circumstance is too dire. Whether it is the loss of a job, marital difficulties, a terminal diagnosis, cancer spreading, addiction, a loved one away from the Church, infertility and the list could go on. Sometimes the situation becomes so tangled that it is difficult to trust that God can and will work it out. In our finite mind, we cannot see an answer.
In 1612 in Germany, Wolfgang Langenmantel and Sophia Rentz were having problematic struggles in their marriage leading them to be on the verge of divorce. Wolfgang, feeling like there was no hope went and sought the spiritual guidance and prayer from a Jesuit priest. Fr. Jakob Rem, suggested they take the ribbon from the couple’s wedding ritual and pray to Our Lady to undo the knots of difficulty and struggle in their marriage. They asked Mary to smooth out the ribbon that united them together.
After 28 days of praying to the Blessed Mother to untie the knots and problems in their marriage, the couple did not divorce and went on to live a peaceful married life. Years later, Wolfgang and Sophia’s grandson, who had become a priest, commissioned a painting titled Mary, Undoer of Knots.
The story could end there, but in the 1980s when Fr. Jorge Bergoglio, later Pope Francis was studying in Germany he saw the painting and was introduced to the devotion of Mary, Undoer of Knots. Impacted and inspired by the image he returned to Argentina and began spreading the devotion by sending postcards of the image, eventually a replica was painted in Argentina.
When Pope Francis was elected pope in 2013, devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots began to spread throughout the world. In 2021, after a global rosary marathon, Pope Francis knelt before a large painting of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots and he specifically asked for Mary’s intercession for the world under that title, Undoer of Knots.
During our Give Hope Pledge Drive, when you give to Relevant Radio at the $600+ level, you will receive a stunning painted resin figure of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. This statuette recently accompanied Drew Mariani on a Marian Pilgrimage. While this statue is beautiful and perfect for any home or office, it is much more. The image of Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, reminds us that whatever problem, difficulty, cross, or tangled mess we encounter in our life, none is too great for Our Lady to smooth out and untangle. During this month of May, which for centuries has been the month of Our Lady let us hand over our tangled ribbons and those of our loved ones to her intercession.
“We pray to you, Holy Mother, untie the knots that oppress us materially and spiritually, so that we may joyfully bear witness to your Son and our Lord, Jesus Christ.” Pope Francis
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