Novena to Mary Undoer of Knots
Read the origin of the devotion to Mary Undoer of Knots and find the novena prayer below
History and Origin
In 1612, a German nobleman named Wolfgang Langenmantel was on the brink of divorce from his wife, Sophie. He sought help from Jesuit Father Jakob Rem in Augsburg. During their final meeting, Father Rem prayed over the couple's wedding ribbon, asking Mary to undo the knots of their marital discord. Miraculously, the ribbon became white and smooth, and the marriage was saved.
To honour this, their grandson, Father Hieronymus Ambrosius Langenmantel, commissioned a painting around 1700 by Johann Georg Melchior Schmidtner. It hangs in St. Peter am Perlach Church in Augsburg, Germany, depicting Mary untying knots while crushing the head of a serpent, symbolizing her role as the "New Eve" who undoes the knots of disobedience created by the first Eve.
Pope Francis
Pope Francis discovered this image while studying in Germany in the 1980s and brought it to Argentina, spreading the devotion worldwide.
Novena to Our Lady Undoer of Knots
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...Amen
Act of Contrition
O my God, I am heartily sorry for having offended Thee, and I detest all my sins because of Thy just punishments, but most of all because they offend Thee, my God, Who art all-good and deserving of all my love. I firmly resolve, with the help of Thy grace, to sin no more and to avoid the near occasions of sin. Amen.
Pray the first three decades of the Holy Rosary
Choose Meditations for each day
Day 1 – 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 this knot [mention your petition] and all the knots of my life. Mary, Undoer of Knots, pray for me.
Day 2 – 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. Untie the knots of my pride and self-sufficiency.
Day 3 – Holy Mary, Mother of God and our Mother, turn your eyes of mercy toward us. Untie the knots of discord in our families and communities.
Day 4 – O Virgin Mary, Mother of fair love, help us to live in the light of your Son. Untie the knots of anxiety and despair that cloud our souls.
Day 5 – Mother of Divine Grace, intercede for us that we may receive the sacraments worthily. Untie the knots that keep us from Confession and Holy Communion.
Day 6 – Queen of Peace, untie the knots of anger and unforgiveness that bind our hearts.
Day 7 – Our Lady of Hope, untie the knots of doubt and spiritual dryness.
Day 8 – Mother of the Church, untie the knots that hinder vocations and the spread of the Gospel.
Day 9 – Mary, Undoer of Knots, with gratitude we thank you for every grace received. Keep us faithful until we see you in glory.
Pray the remaining two decades of the Rosary
Prayer to Mary Undoer of Knots
Holy Mary, full of God’s presence during the days of your life, you accepted with full humility the Father’s will, and the devil was never capable of tying you up with his confusion. Once with your Son you interceded for our difficulties, and full of kindness and patience, you gave us example of how to untie the knots in our life. By remaining forever Our Mother, you put in order and make more clear the ties that link us to the Lord. Holy Mother, Mother of God and our Mother, to you who untie with a motherly heart the knots of our life, we pray to you to receive in your hands (name your intention) and to free us of the knots and confusion with which our enemy attacks. Through your grace, your intercession and your example, deliver us from all evil, Our Lady, and untie the knots that prevent us from being united with God, so that we, free from sin and error, may find Him in all things, may have our hearts placed in Him, and may serve Him always in our brothers and sisters. Amen.
In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit...Amen.