A prayer to Mary Undoer of Knots (poem)

I have learnt about two special devotions, which people use in order to pray to Mary for help. The first is to pray to her as: Mary Undoer of Knots.  (This devotion is based on an old painting of Mary undoing knots in a rope, which represents our messed up lives) and the second devotion is based on a prayer that asks Mary to take over and help solve difficulties and problems. I have written the following prayer (poem) which ties together these two devotions.

A prayer to Mary Undoer of Knots (poem)

Mary undo the knots
That fill up each day,
Untangle the troubles
That come our way.

Mary take over
And help your child.
Wipe away the tears
And bring back a smile.

More of my poems

Read my book on answers to prayer free on-line

Novena to St Philomena the Wonder Worker for the healing of autism

The powerful intercession of the Holy Souls in Purgatory and ways to help them

The web page has accounts of the intercession of The Holy Souls in Purgatory, for their benefactors in cases of illness, addictions, cars that won’t start, infertility problems, protection in accidents, conversion, chronic insomnia, their help for people who are experiencing major trouble with city councils, success with projects, employment, real estate, finding lost property and trouble with relations, etc. and prayers and ideas on how to help The Holy Souls in Purgatory.

Join a Living Rosary. Click here for more information.

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An explosion in the kitchen (A protection through the intercession of Blessed Teresa of Calcutta)

A bundle of clean clothing which had been brought in from the clothes-line was placed in the backroom.  I walked into the dining room and as I did, I looked towards the backroom and saw a reflection of the various colours of the clothes. Their combined reflection in the window above them, created an image of Mother Teresa of Calcutta. (This was before her beatification). Straight after I saw the reflected picture, I heard a loud explosion from the kitchen (the adjoining room). Through the doorway, I saw large flashes of yellow light shooting across the kitchen. I knew that my husband was in there, but I could not see him from where I was standing.  I was afraid that he had been injured and called out to him.  My husband was unhurt.  The electric kettle had exploded when he turned it on. I believe that Blessed Teresa of Calcutta protected him.

This is one of the stories in my book: Help from heaven (Answers to prayer), which can be read free online at this link.

The Miraculous Medal Chapel in Paris, France

Masses for the Holy Souls in Purgatory through the organisation: Aid to the Church in Need

A good way to assist the Holy Souls in Purgatory is to have Masses offered for them through: Aid to the Church in Need. You can contact them at: 

http://www.churchinneed.org/site/PageServer?pagename=mainpage 

Having Masses offered through this organization is a good way of multi-tasking. You assist the Holy Souls in Purgatory, you support priests in poor areas of the world. The Mass offerings go much further than they would in a developed country. 

For instance the recommended minimum Mass offering in some areas of Australia is $10 (Australian currency).  In Australia this does not go very far, but in a third world country I have been told that it can buy a large sack of rice and feed many people for a week. The people in these third world areas are usually so poor that they can hardly support themselves, yet alone the local priest, going back to the theme of multi-tasking, you are supporting the building up of the Catholic Church in these areas and are in the process fulfilling one of your important obligations as a baptized Catholic. 

You are also building up these communities with their education, infrastructure, health and housing and protecting them from the threat of communism (which will promise them the world and will deliver them misery) and are ensuring that they stay Catholic and not join some other religious denomination. In South American countries, poor Catholics are being diverted in droves into other religious dominations that have lots of financial backing. 

You can also ask the Holy Souls for necessary favours as well, perhaps for conversions and for an end to the culture of death. This last petition is an ever increasing need.  On the TV news last night there was a very unwell man who is planning to go to Switzerland to end his life, because thankfully Euthanasia (murdering yourself) is illegal in Australia, although there are definite pushes to have it legalized. 

I muted the sound of this manipulative TV news item so that my children could not be affected by it and told them that this man probably has someone encouraging him to do this.  I had a particular Australian doctor in mind who we refer to here as “Dr Death”.  I don’t know why he is not put in jail.  Then the camera angle changed and sure enough there was the doctor that I had in mind.  He was behind this unwell man urging him to end his life, just as he had urged others to do so. Unfortunately some of them have listened to him and have ended their lives. Please pray for the conversion of this doctor.

A Story of St. Joseph’s timely intercession

When my daughter was about three years old she was very autistic.  We sent her to the local preschool.  She was totally unable to cope and cried a great deal and would sometimes vomit because of the stress. The pre-schooling for my daughter was totally unworkable. (She was unable to communicate at this stage of her life, but has since told me that she was afraid that I would never come back to pick her up from the preschool).

The autistic association came up with the idea of sending her to one of their schools which was many miles away.  I was amazed that this was suggested in view of the fact that my daughter could not even cope with one hour at preschool so I turned to St. Joseph for his help and for seven Sundays in a row I prayed fourteen Glorias in honour of the seven Sorrows and the Seven Joys of St. Joseph.

On the first day that she was taken in the school taxi to the special school when they arrived at the school she hopped out of the car and waved goodbye to the lady from the autistic association who was helping out and from then on my daughter had no more difficulties separating from me in order to go to school.

Read my book:  Help from heaven (Answers to prayer), free on-line

An Elephant’s revenge (Protection through Mary’s intercerssion)

The following event was related by a Christian in the East Indies to the Missionary, Father Oliver,

“That I am alive at this moment,” he said, “is owing entirely to the protection of the Blessed Virgin. Some time ago I went, with several others to fell wood in a neighbouring forest; as we intended to stay some considerable time, we erected a small hut, and covered it with branches. One night as we were all together in our little house, we heard a great noise, proceeding from the direction of the wood, and we did not for a moment doubt that this betokened the approach of an elephant. As we hardly considered it safe to remain where we were, we agreed to separate, and that each one should endeavour to provide for his own safety.

Scarcely had I left the hut, when an elephant-for our surmise had been only too correct-coming up to me, seized me by my hair, and lifted me five or six feet from the ground, and then carried me some distance. In this frightful situation, the horror of which I cannot give you the remotest idea, I placed myself under the protection of Our Lady, adjuring her to intercede with her Divine Son for my life. I had only time for this short prayer, as I became unconscious, through very fear. Having carried me some way, the animal dug a kind of ditch with his foot, into which dropped me, heaping over me a mound of earth, he then left me, and trotted back towards the wood.

Recovering from my first swoon, I  managed by dint of great exertion, to extricate  myself – from my strange grave, but no sooner had  I emerged, and was – proceeding to a safe retreat, when the wily beast returned, evidently suspecting some foul play on my part, and seizing me by the foot, he threw  me savagely on the ground.

Not far from where I lay was a sandy bank and here the elephant now scooped out another hole, rolling  me into it, and covering me with such a mass of sand, that 1 was unable to stir. Being quiet satisfied with his work this time, he now  left me, and the whole of that night, I remained in that painful situation; unceasingly, I prayed to Mary, the Mother of the destitute, to send me assistance, for I knew that if I did not die of starvation, I should probably become the prey of some wild beast.

At last, morning dawned, and I thought I heard the voices of several  persons lamenting, and moaning, and above them I clearly discerned the voice of my beloved  mother, evidently directing a search; she called again and again, but I had no strength to answer, still I felt confident, now that she was aware of  my danger, that she would not cease her quest till she found me, dead or alive; and Almighty God so directed her steps, that she came close to  the sand where I lay half buried.

After a while, she distinguished a slight sound, and when she saw a mound of sand, newly piled up, the thought flashed across her mind that I might be beneath, but how I came there, she knew not. Calling to my late companions, who accompanied her, they hastened to examine the pile, and found me lying half dead. Yes, as I said at the beginning, it was owing to the Mother of God, that I was thus preserved, and I feel as grateful now to her as I did on that day, when she rescued me from such a miserable fate.”

Read about a wonderful miracle of the Miraculous Medal

I came across a wonderful story of the Miraculous Medal yesterday on the internet, about a boy who had been involved in a terrible accident and who made a fantastic recovery due to the Miraculous Medal:

Click here to read the account of the miracle.

Then get yourself a Miraculous Medal and wear it around your neck trusting in Mary’s intercession for you.

The history of the Miraculous Medal

The miraculous picture of Our Lady of Good Counsel at the monastery of New Norcia, Western Australia

There is a miraculous picture of Our Lady of Good Counsel at the monastery of New Norcia in Western Australia. This painting was given to the Benedictines in 1845 by Saint Vincent Pallotti, when they were leaving Rome to start missions in Western Australia. In December, 1847 a terrible bushfire was ranging and threatened to destroy the monastery.  The picture was placed against the standing corn in front of the fire. As soon as the sacred image of Mary was placed before the raging fire, the wind blew  in the opposite direction, carrying the flames away from the Mission where everything was already burned black. The fire soon died away. The native people who witnessed this were amazed. On another occasion the mourners in a funeral procession were in danger of perishing because bushfires had hemmed them in on all sides. Dom Salvado seeing this in the distance, got the picture from the church and ran with it toward the fire area and prayed to Our Lady to save the people.  The wind changed direction and the danger passed.

What is the name of that saint?

I am afraid of dogs.  Sometimes I have the misfortune to meet one in the street and have a hard time coping.  A friend gave me this piece of advice, which she received from her mother-in-law. When you come across a dog in the street call upon St Roch to get it away from you and he will do so. I was very pleased to hear this and wished that I had learnt it much earlier in my life, but better late than never. I informed my friend that the feast of St Roch was the following day and told her his story. The next time I came face to face with a dog in the street, I became paralyzed with fear and could not remember the name of the saint who was going to rescue me. Silently I prayed “Lord, I can’t remember the name of the saint who gets rid of dogs, but PLEASE HELP ME!”  The dog went away.

The Devotion of the Three Hail Marys

 This devotion goes back to some revelations with which benedictine nun St. Mechtilde was favoured. Mechtilde was the daughter of the Count of Hackeborn, Germany. When she was seven, she was taken to the cloister of Ruderdorf to visit an elder sister of hers, Gertrude who was a Benedictine nun.

At the end of the visit, the little girl would not leave her sister. She eventually joined the nuns and together with her elder sister went to found a new Cloister at Helfta. Shortly after, Mechtilde, although still very young,  was made novice and choir mistress.

Among her novices she had Gertrude who became St. Gertrude, known as the Great. It was this pupil who secretly, helped by another nun, collected Mechtilde’s memoirs which came down to us. Mechtilde died in 1299.

From the start Mechtilde was a shining example of humility, piety religious observance and of great patience. She bore with great patience constant physical pain which tormented her throughout life. She often meditated on the mystery of death and every time she implored Our Lady to be with her always, especially at that moment. She was also favoured with visions and colloquies with Our Lord and Our Lady.

One day Our Lady appeared to her and assured her: “Dear daughter, I will most certainly grant you the grace that you insistently ask of me, but I request you to say, every day, Three Hail Marys in honour of the power, wisdom and love with which the Holy Trinity deigned to fill my heart. If you do that I promise you final perseverance. Mechtilde was made to feel that his promise was not for her alone but for all who would undertake to practice this devotion.

The devotion soon spread all over among the faithful.  It was approved by Pope Benedict XV on July 20, 1921. The papal document says “Nothing gives us more joy than helping the Christian people to develop their devotion towards the Virgin Mary, mediatrix of all divine graces …. We raise and constitute into an Arch Confraternity or Primary Society, with all the usual privileges, the Association of The Three Hail Marys, canonically already existing at Blois (on the Loire, in France) in the chapel dedicated to the Most Blessed Immaculate Virgin Mary.

In order to respond full to the request of Our Lady and merit the grace of a happy death, one must have the true knowledge of what this devotion implies.  It is not enough to recite the Three Hail Marys  in a general way,  but it is necessary to recite the Three Hail Marys with the precise aim pointed out by Our Lady: “To honour the Holy Trinity for the three privileges granted to the Mother of God: power, wisdom and love.

Again the full value of this devotion is not measured only by this primary purpose, but by the power it has to obtain extraordinary spiritual and material graces. One could hardly dream of giving an adequate number of all the graces granted throughout the centuries. Extraordinary cures from infirmities; study courses completed with success, when the odds were so many; miraculous protection in dangers of all kind; severe temptations and bad habits overcome; conversions to a better life etc….

No one could deny so many real graces obtained by so many.  As a sample of the spiritual power of this devotion I will quote here one example written in first person by whoever received the grace. “I was slave of a bad habit against purity. For three long years I struggled in vain.  All the means I could think of, or which were suggested to me proved useless. I felt guilty of sins and even sacrileges, knew no peace of mind and was beginning to despair. Then one day I was told of this devotion and began to practice it. Almost at once I was strong enough not to fall into sin. There were occasions when I almost wanted to go back to my evil ways again, but something stronger than my bad will was there to prevent me. Thank you Mother for helping me out of a situations that was seriously endangering both my material and spiritual life.”

Let this example inspire us to begin practicing this devotion, if we have not done so yet or to make use of it more consciously and with greater devotion if we are practicing it already. While doing so let us give first place to our spiritual needs, like the strength to avoid sin and the desire to become better spiritually day by day.

The center of this devotion is at Blois in the beautiful shrine dedicated to Notre Dame de la Trinite. Our Lady of the Holy Trinity, built in 1937. There also is the centre of the Arch Confraternity of the Three Hail Marys.

A personal testimony

I prayed this devotion repeatedly during a crisis and four hours later the problem was solved perfectly. Below is another testimony regarding the Three Hail Marys.

A severe cough  (The devotion of the Three Hail Marys)
During a long bus trip, Clare developed a very severe cough that was loud and prolonged. The lady who was sitting behind her took out a holy card of Our Lady of the Miraculous Medal and silently continuously prayed a devotion that is known as The Three Hail Marys, to ask for a healing of the cough. Later on another passenger came up to the lady and touched her with a relic of Saint Philomena. The next morning Clare was completely free of the cough.

The Three Hail Marys Devotion consists of saying three Hail Marys followed by the invocation “O Mary my mother keep me from mortal sin”. This devotion is in honour the power, wisdom and love with which the Blessed Trinity has infused into the heart of the Blessed Virgin Mary. Many favours have been granted throughout the centuries to those who practice this devotion.

This story is published in my book:  Help from heaven (Answers to prayer) which can be read free on-line here.

A rescue at sea that was bordering on the miraculous

Three sisters of the Sacred Heart Order in Papua New Guinea, were travelling to their outer mission post, with medical supplies in a canoe. They were accompanied by a native boy.

The river flowed into the sea. They were swept far out to sea. The canoe overturned and they were in the water.  Each of the sisters and the boy felt a dolphin underneath them, gently carrying them along.

The dolphins deposited them on an island. One of the sisters found a piece of glass on the island and a few days later the boy climbed a coconut tree and shined the piece of glass into the sun to create a light for ships at sea to notice. They were rescued by a passing ship. One of these nuns (an Australian) is the sister of one of our family friends.

Protection from danger at sea (The Holy Infant Jesus of Prague)

A friend told me the following story about her grandfather Joseph.  Joseph was on a ship off the coast of China prior to World War I.  A gale blew up and large waves lashed the ship. The ship was in danger of sinking.  Joseph was very devoted to the Holy Infant Jesus of Prague. He went to his cabin and took out his Infant Jesus of Prague statue and then stood on the deck and held it while praying. He received a vision of the Infant Jesus walking on the waves.  The gale stopped and the waves died down. The ship was no longer in danger of going down.

This story comes from my book: Answers to Prayer (Help from heaven), click here to read the book free on-line.

The Green Scapular

The Blessed Virgin Mary revealed the Green Scapular to Sister Justine Bisqueyburu, in France, in 1840.  Our Lady promised that there would be many conversions when this scapular was used with confidence in her intercession.  The scapular should be blessed a priest. There is no enrollment required.  Daily say the prayer attached to this Scapular. “Immaculate Heart of Mary, pray for us now and at the hour of our death”. This prayer can be said in favour of another. If the prayer is not said by the person to whom the scapular is given then it should be said by the person who is giving the scapular. It can be worn, or it can be placed in the clothing, on the bed, or simply in the room with the person.

Learn about the Miraculous Medal.

St Therese and the fishing expedition

There was a fishing village which was in danger of starvation becausethe fishermen had been very unsuccessful in catching fish that year. Then one of the boats in the fishing fleet was put under the protection of Sister Therese as she was then known. (This was well before her canonisation).  The boat which was put under her protection was amazingly successful in its catch on the first fishing night that Sister Therese was asked for her help.  The other boats in the fishing fleet did not invoke her protection. They caught nothing at all.

Read more about St Therese here.

The promise of St Therese of the Child Jesus (The Little Flower).

“I will let fall from heaven….a shower of roses”

These ‘roses’ are favours and miracles.

Speedy help with finding a lost item

Today my autistic daughter took the smart card out of the box above the TV. This means that no TV could be viewed. (It is cable pay TV). She could not tell us where she put it. We have a big house and looked around for the card. I said a prayer to St Anthony and then prayed the St. Gertrude prayer for the Holy Souls several times. It was found quickly.  My daughter had put it under the TV box.  My husband lifted this up and found it.  This is the last place that the rest of us would have ever thought of looking for it.

The Memorare

Remember O most loving Virgin Mary that never was it known in any age that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession was left unaided, inspired by this confidence, therefore I fly to thee O Virgin of Virgins my Mother, to you do I come, before you I stand sinful and sorrowful, do not O Mother of the Word Incarnate despise my prayers but in thy mercy graciously hear and answer them.  Amen.

Click here to read the book: Help from heaven (Answers to Prayer)

Don’t celebrate my life when I am gone! Pray for my soul instead!

I don’t want anyone to celebrate my life when I am gone.  I want them to pray for my soul !  I wil probably need all the help that I can get!  I don’t want to be stuck in Purgatory while my life is being celebrated !

Help the Holy souls in Purgatory.  To learn more Visit:

The powerful intercession of the Holy Souls in Purgatory for their benefactors and ways to help them

Protection of a guardian angel

Your guardian angel is always with you to help and protect you.  Ask him to help you.

This is one of the many protections that my guardian angel has given to me:

I was walking my children home from school.  We stopped at the corner of the street in order to cross the road.  There was a car stopped there waiting for the traffic to clear in order to make a right hand turn. I deliberately made eye contact with the driver to make sure that the she could see the children and myself.  We then proceeded to cross the road.  Unfortunately despite my efforts she had not seen us.  She started up her car immediately as we began to cross the road.  She was almost upon us when at the last second she managed to slam on her brakes.  The driver of a car got out and started to shake and cry uncontrollably, because she realised that if we had been killed that it would have been her fault for not paying enough attention to the situation. My obviously pregnant state would have added to her distress. I thought very little of the incident at that time, and casually remarked to her “It’s okay, I pray to the guardian angels for protection, everyday”.  A lady witnessed this incident.  She told me the next day that she was absolutely convinced that the children and I were going to be killed.

This story comes from my book:  Help from Heaven (Answers to Prayer) which can be read free on line by clicking on here.