Our Lady Untier of Knots, also known as Mary Undoer of Knots, is one of the titles of Mary, the mother of Jesus Christ and the mother of all of us. Each title of Mary praises her majesty and magnitude while allowing us different ways we can petition her. Mary’s many different titles also give depth to her humanity and provide us with ways we can access and relate to her.  

In Our Lady Untier of Knots, our knot is the tangled body of a woman, tense and vulnerable. Her body curls in on itself as she huddles down in the darkness—trying to make herself disappear. The palms of her hands press together and reach upward. Her prayers are jagged thorns that grow from within her. Their sharp vines wrap tightly around her arms. Her prayers are her suffering and sorrow, tangled and alive, wounding and binding her. The blackness of the paint around her is absolute, but even here, in the darkest of her despair, she is not alone. 

Our Lady Untier of Knots is carved, regal and ethereal,  from metallic paint that intricately winds across the larger canvas. The black paint of the darkness surrounding her barely contains the rich and swirling gold, blues, and silver colors of her majesty. Thick black brush strokes form the shadows that pool in the folds of her garments. Her fingers brush the front edge of the canvas reaching out for the sharp thorns of suffering and sorrow that twist towards her. As the prayers pass through the arms of Our Lady, they are transformed into delicately painted roses. 

The knots in our lives are held in our bodies, minds, and souls. When I look at Our Lady Untier of Knots, I feel the strength of Our Lady's compassion and love for all the tangled and wounded parts of humanity. When I pray to Our Lady Untier of Knots, the tight knot of anxiety in my chest loosens. I feel her strength and support, and I no longer want to lock parts of myself away. No part of me is toxic. With new space in my chest, I breathe in deep and the twisting currents of sorrow in my stomach start to unravel. I pray to Our Lady Untier of Knots, and I feel that all parts of me are worthy of love, acceptance, help, and healing. 

Feast Day of Mary, Undoer of Knots: September 28