Mary, Untier of Knots

This Catholic devotion has grown since Jorge Mario Bergoglio, S.J. better know to us as Pope Francis, brought a postcard of the painting to Argentina in the 1980s after seeing the original while studying in Germany. The image represents the trials and tribulations a family encounters and strives to deal with - "untie the knots". Bergoglio had this image of Mary engraved on a chalice he presented to Pope Benedict XVI and another chalice bearing her image, the work of the same silversmith, is to be presented to Pope Francis on behalf of the Argentine people. In Buenos Aires, a copy of the icon was made and left by the artist, Dr. Ana de Betta Berti, for the Church of San José del Talar, which has had it since 8 December 1996. On the 8th of each month, thousands of people make the pilgrimage to this church.