Collection: Mary, Undoer of Knots

Pope Francis is responsible for the spread of devotion to Mary as the one who untangles the knots in our lives. This devotion originated in Germany in the 17th century. The following century, it became more formal when an artist created an image of Mary untying knots, which was placed in St. Peter’s Church in Augsburg.

This icon is a Byzantine interpretation of the original German devotion. The Christ child on Mary’s lap puts into proper perspective her role as one who intercedes with God on our behalf.

The central symbol in the icon is the long tangled cord. The tangled knots in the dirty cord represent our sinfulness--the ways our bad choices complicate our lives and keep us from finding happiness. There is no human way to untie these knots. To untangle a cord full of knots requires access to both its ends. Here neither end is accessible. The cord is seemingly endless, just as there seems to be no end to our brokenness and sinfulness. The knots are also connected one to another, for sin has ramifications beyond the lives of individual sinners. As the cord passes through Mary’s hands--as she prays to her Son for us--it comes out straight and clean. All things are possible for God.