In the hundreds of e-mails I receive every day,    from many of the friends of this Prayer Group, I’ve   often been asked who am I and why I decided to   write these pages.   My name is Mario Horacio Ibertis Rivera, born in   Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1942. My family   originally arrived in this continent from 1595 to   1630.    I’m married and the father of four children.  I earn   my living with a small shop, the remains of my   former TV antennas factory. I was an industrialist   in “troubled” Argentina. In the 50’s decade, a very   difficult time for Catholics, I was a member of the   Catholic Action. I received my religious education   from “Our Lady of the Good Council” Parish.  The   Congregation consisted mainly of Chaplains of the   German army.  It was at the time prior to the   Vatican Council II, for which, to help during mass,   we had to study and know Latin and some Greek.   Today I’m a militant Catholic, without being a   member of any congregation within the Church;    however, I remain at the service of the entire   Apostolic Romanic Catholic Church, and,   specially, of its followers.

 About three years ago, I heard of a “strange and miraculous image.”  It was called, the Virgin who
 Unties Knots.  This singular image burrowed deeply into the Argentinean’s soul; firstly, among those
 referred to as “stage people” and the artist community in general.  Then, it rapidly spread to the general
 public and went on to embrace thousands of believers.  What called my attention was that this “new”
 representation of Mary didn’t have a very clear history.  I’ve seen it mixed in ‘santerias,’ with Pancho
 Sierra, umbanda rites, and a whole spectrum of other magic and esoteric elements.  Today, we can see
 it in estampitas (card images), on one side the picture of "Rodrigo" or "Gilda", singers who died
 tragically, and on the other side, the image of “She who Unties Knots.” This motivated me to investigate
 the true origins of this representation of the Virgin Mary.

  At the beginning I only had a few pieces of information about the painting: “Author unknown, baroque
 style, year 1700, Augsburg, Germany, and the word, Knotenlöserin¨.  For almost two years, I worked
 intensely in search of clues and data.  The devotees of this image, María Knotenlöserin, deserved
 nothing less.  Its true history could not be left to anyone’s imagination.

       In Argentina there was no information to be found and, furthermore, nobody had thought of
 investigating it.  These are the reasons for which I conducted my inquiries within the field of German
 history, the Sacred Art, the Jesuits, and ancient costumes.  It was a puzzling job, given that no archives
 existed in Germany –they were destroyed during World War II- and, what’s most peculiar, María
 Knotenlöserin, is totally unknown in that country.  Now a day, this beautiful work of art of Johann
 Melchior Georg Schmittdner, has a true story and its evangelic message has been clearly interpreted.
 At last, Our Virgin Mary “as the one who Unties Knots,” Mother of the Good Council, Advocate,
 Auxiliary and Mediator before Our Lord Jesus Christ, has Her history.

       She has become the “Untier of Knots,” of the people’s lives’ ribbon and that of their cities, even if,
 at its creation, Her image was linked to “untying the knots of married life’s ribbon.”  What could be more
 complicated than married life itself!!  I’ve been married for 36 years.  Like me, many know this subject
 well.  And, if this Mary can help us with our marriage, founding stone of our family, She can also help
 us with our health, our jobs, and with all aspects of our lives.

      Through prayer, this fervor of Her devotees has generated a great Marian spirit which manifests itself
in countless testimonies. The faith of God’s people must be clear; our labor is to dismiss any and every
magic and esoteric connotation.  I have done my job.  All the records of my investigation are available for
anyone who, in her roll of Pastor of the Church, wants to present a catechesis.
 Through these Internet pages, we are united in our will, in our faith and our devotion.
 ...two days ago, I heard comments about a particular “Christ.”  Soon, I’ll be working on its origin and
interpretation.  We, Laics, have obligations within our Church.

     May Our Lady bless you and spread her favors.      Mario H. Ibertis Rivera

Buenos Aires, Argentina, October, 2000.

Translated by Amalia M. Jazán  CopyRight 2000