Review: Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
Our Lady, Undoer of Knots: A Living Novena is a unique guided meditation from veteran Catholic journalist Marge Fenelon, who has created a new devotional practice from this classic novena that is a favorite of Pope Francis. Since the seventeenth century, Catholics facing seemingly insurmountable obstacles have turned to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots through a special novena-nine days of prayer for divine intervention. Catholic columnist Marge Fenelon resurrects this ancient tradition, also known as the Unfailing Novena, by reflecting on nine sacred sites associated with Pope Francis's 2014 pilgrimage to the Holy Land. Reflecting on such holy places as Bethlehem, the Mount of Olives, and the Temple Mount, Fenelon helps readers explore the "knots" or impossible situations in their own lives in order to find peace.
I feel really blessed and fortunate to have been given the opportunity to read and spend some extra time in prayer with this beautiful book. While I don't mind talking about my faith here on my blog, I was a little nervous, though very excited, to be able to talk about a book on prayer and meditation with y'all.
One of the things I really enjoyed about this book was seeing the Holy Land through the eyes of the author as she visited nine of the most sacred sites there when Pope Francis made his pilgrimage there in 2014. I really enjoyed how each of the chapters, and, sites in the Holy Land were associated with a day and knot to be prayed and handed over to Our Lady. The meditations just went really well together and helped one to see some knots in our, okay my, life that maybe I hadn't even noticed where in need of untangling.
As one who dreams of seeing the world you imagine how excited I was to "see" various sites in the Holy Land by reading Our Lady, Undoer of Knots. The descriptions of each of the places where Jesus walked, taught, and where He dies really made me wish that one day I, too, could visit there. I promise, I won't bore y'all with my desire to pilgrimage to all the places. Just know that I really enjoyed seeing how she tied in the various stops on Pope Francis' trip with, not only, her story but with a trouble that needs undoing.
While I was really excited o delve into Our Lady, Undoer of Knots, I was somewhat unsure of how I would like the author's writing and the prayer/meditations put together for the book. My biggest problem with books that include meditations is that for the most part, the seem to speak more to, well, not where I'm at in life. Yet, that was actually not a problem with this one. I loved that it felt accessible to me a single young woman and not just geared for, you know, married people. I really felt that this book, as well, as Marge Fenelon's writing is something that anyone can find helpful to their current position in life.
Final Verdict: Our Lady, Undoer of Knots- Sometimes, the right book makes it into your hands just when you (unknowingly) need it. Beautiful descriptions and wonderful prayers to help you undo the knots in your life.
Our Lady, Undoer of Knots earns
For some extra reading:
You can learn more about Our Lady, Undoer of Knots by reading up on the history of this beautiful devotion. Want to learn more about novenas and what it means/is? Well then here's the place to learn more about what exactly a novena is.
This book was received from Ave Maria Press in consideration for review. All thoughts are my own.
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