Christmas season. For those beset with the problems and reversals of life, the holidays can be a time of great sorrow.The Lord wants to help us through these challenges and he offers us many remedies including the grace of the sacraments, the love of family and friends, and the gift of His Mother. For the most overwhelming of difficulties, the Lord has inspired me to recommend the Unfailing Novena to Mary Undoer of Knots. It is a novena to which I have turned for many a need and it is one which I have often recommended to others.
The novena is based upon the beautiful image of Mary, Undoer of Knots, which has been venerated since 1700. It is said that the painting by Johann Melchior Georg Schmittdner was inspired by a meditation of St. Iranaeus in which he compared Eve and Mary, saying, “Eve, by her disobedience, tied the knot of disgrace for the human race; whereas Mary, by her obedience, undid it”. In it, Mary is depicted delicately undoing the knots of humanity.
Our Lady, under this title wants to help undo the most difficult knots in our lives. What are these knots? The website explains, "There are the problems and struggles we face for which we do not see any solution … knots of discord in your family, lack of understanding between parents and children, disrespect, violence, the knots of deep hurts between husband and wife, the absence of peace and joy at home. There are also the knots of anguish and despair of separated couples, the dissolution of the family, the knots of a drug addict son or daughter, sick or separated from home or God, knots of alcoholism, the practice of abortion, depression, unemployment, fear, solitude…Ah, the knots of our life! How they suffocate the soul, beat us down and betray the heart’s joy and separate us from God."
If you are struggling this holiday season, I encourage you to go to Our Mother Mary, Undoer of Knots. Turn ALL of those knots over to her and allow her to operate on them with her grace. I am confident that she will come to your aid as she has come to mine many times over.
If you would like to listen to today's program, please visit the link on our website. Be assured of my prayers for you and your families. May the abundant life of Jesus Christ be yours and may God bless you this Christmas season!
