By Lori Ubowski

 

 

“Holy Father, protect them in your name that you have given me, so that they may be one, as we are one.
While I was with them, I protected them in your name that you have given me.
I guarded them, and not one of them was lost except the one destined to be lost, so that the scripture might be fulfilled.”  John 17:11b-12:

 

In John 17, we hear Jesus’ prayer of protection over his disciples and are given this beautiful image of the Son of God praying to the Father or us, His children. Prayer can be experienced in many forms and for many reasons: a blessing around the table, a quick whisper, a devoted ritual, or a good cry. When I find myself reaching out in prayer because of obstacles and challenges in my life, one of my favorite ways to pray is through the Mary Undoer of Knots Novena.

Prayer for Days

Novenas are a great way to pray when you don’t have the words or feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to begin. The Mary Undoer of Knots Novena is one of several structured nine-day prayer experiences that help and guide prayer in a very purposeful way for particular intentions. Even if you live a chaotic life, there are websites where you can subscribe to daily reminders for these short prayers. (ie: praymorenovenas.com)

Why Knot?

The foundation of the Mary Undoer of Knots Novena stems from this quote by Saint Irenaeus:

…the knot of Eve’s disobedience was untied by the obedience of Mary; what the virgin Eve bound by her unbelief, the Virgin Mary loosened by her faith. (Adversus Haereses, III, 22, 4).

I can’t remember the first time I prayed this novena. I’ve prayed it during times of discernment, periods of anxiety or stress about things in my life when I felt spiritual attack, and alongside a co-worker when she was dealing with difficult challenges. Without fail, I have seen incredible transformation and answer to prayer every single time. I have never regretted making time for this method of intentional prayer.

 

Prayer

I invite you to pray this short prayer with me now from the Mary Undoer of Knots Novena…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 request here] and all the negative consequences that it provokes in my life.

Call to Action

My friends, I encourage you to continue pursuing a life of prayer, and if you’re called to pray a Novena, make that intentional effort to see it through. Invite a friend, family member, or co-worker to journey with you as you pray for protection and salvation, just as Jesus prayed and asked the same for us.

 

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