Exploring the Intricacies of Existence through Religious Belief and Creative Expression
Marissa Sasscer, a devout Catholic and recent graduate of the Illustration programme at Sessions, has published her first illustrated children's book titled "Our Lady Undoer of Knots." The book, which was published in May 2022, is intended for young children around the age of 7 and presents the Catholic Marian devotion of the same name in a captivating and easy-to-understand manner.
The devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots originated in 17th-century Germany and is associated with a particular devotion to the Blessed Virgin Mary under the title reflecting her role in untying the "knots" or difficulties in people's lives. The book's subject matter involves presenting everyday problems to Mary, who unties them by presenting them to Jesus.
In the story, a little boy learns to approach Mary in the devotion to have her untie his problems. The book is written in rhyme and follows the boy's journey as he faces various challenges and seeks Mary's help. Marissa emphasized the importance of planning when illustrating a children's book, including the flow of each page and the composition of each page.
Marissa drew the whole book in tiny thumbnails before making the dummy book or final illustrations. She also had to reference the original image of 'Our Lady Undoer of Knots' for some of the illustrations and had to create a vision for the book based on design goals provided.
Marissa has had book signings at various events and venues, including Artfest, and is still scheduling more book signings and Catholic Homeschooling Conferences. She is currently working towards an Associate's Degree in Illustration and has collaborated with author Sylvia Dorham on four projects, including "Avoiding the Octopus: A Family Guide to Standing Strong Against Human Trafficking" and "A First Responder's Guide to Human Trafficking."
Marissa finds the subject matter of the book personally meaningful and hopes that it will help young children understand the power of prayer and the importance of seeking help from Mary in times of need. The book's message of faith and perseverance is a testament to Marissa's passion for illustrating children's books and her commitment to spreading the Catholic faith through art.
The "Our Lady Undoer of Knots" devotion belongs within the broader Marian devotional tradition, which includes well-known titles such as Our Lady of Mount Carmel (dating from the 13th century and linked to the Carmelite Order) and others. While the Mount Carmel devotion involves the brown scapular and promises of Mary's protection, the Undoer of Knots focuses more spiritually and symbolically on Mary’s help in solving life’s personal crises and challenges.
The devotion to Our Lady Undoer of Knots is relatively newer compared to centuries-old Marian devotions like Our Lady of Mount Carmel, but it has gained global popularity in recent decades, especially in Central and South America, through the encouragement of figures like Pope Francis. The book and devotion serve as a symbol of trust in Mary's maternal care to overcome life’s complex problems through faith and prayer.
Marissa's illustration projects can be found on her Instagram profile page, and she is already working on a new children's book project. With her talent and dedication, it is clear that Marissa is poised to make a significant impact in the world of children's literature and the Catholic faith.
- Marissa Sasscer's dedication to illustrating children's books extends beyond "Our Lady Undoer of Knots," as she is currently working on a new project.
- Marissa's illustration style can be seen in her work on projects like "Avoiding the Octopus: A Family Guide to Standing Strong Against Human Trafficking" and "A First Responder's Guide to Human Trafficking."
- In addition to her illustration work, Marissa continues to pursue her education, currently seeking an Associate's Degree in Illustration.
- Marissa's career development in the field of art is evident in her job search and collaborations with other authors, such as Sylvia Dorham.
- The fashion-and-beauty, food-and-drink, home-and-garden, and travel sections of various shopping platforms could potentially feature Marissa's books among their offerings, allowing fans to support her work.
- For those interested in skills training, education-and-self-development resources could offer courses on illustration techniques similar to those Marissa has used in her projects.
