For Day 3 in our daily walk with The Novena of Mary Undoer of Knots we cover “this knot in my life…and all the rancor and resentment it has caused in me…’.

All right, resentment. Whether the rancor in life is caused by us or by others, the resentment that results is one character defect that we alcoholic own (Along with anger; there’s others, but resentment holds a “special” place in our wounded mind.)

Resentment means “to feel again,” as in to “sentiment” again. You hold a grudge. Someone wronged you and you feel it for years. The letting go of it is hard. But letting go is a must.

So we take a look at this knot. What distance that has transpired in time since its creation is unimportant. It happened, the knot was tied, and it still pains you all these years and has caused rifts between you and others.

Use this Novena to ask Mary to help you forgive. As tough as forgiveness may be, it is essential to your salvation (kindly say the “Our Father,” and really think about the passage near the end: “…and forgive us our trespasses, as we forgive others who trespass against us.” God’s forgiveness of your sins is dependent upon you forgiving others…)

Mary can lead you to the softening of the heart, to the feeling that “what was done was done and the time spent dwelling on it is now over.” For some transgressions the time taken to the act of forgiveness may be long. But as long as you start along the path to forgiving the trespasser, your healing can begin.

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