Can a Christian pray to saints or Mary for their intercession?

Leestijd / Lesezeit / Reading time: 5 min

This week, I received an interesting question about praying to saints or the Virgin Mary. The person asking had spoken with several priests, who had told him that praying to saints is permitted as long as it doesn’t involve worship. According to them, asking saints to intercede, due to their closeness to Jesus and God, is an acceptable practice. The person even shared that, out of desperation, he had once prayed to a saint and was convinced his prayer was answered. Yet, he didn’t feel entirely comfortable about it… something was bothering him… So, is it allowed or not? He was genuinely seeking an answer because this question troubled him.

When someone asks a question like this, there’s a 99% chance they’re from a Catholic background. It’s likely that this person has been raised, perhaps for many years, in that religious tradition. An example of such an intercessory prayer might be, “Mary, mother of God, pray for us,” followed by their prayer.

I myself didn’t grow up in the Catholic religious tradition, so I need to approach this question with caution. What this person learned from their grandparents, parents, or priests holds emotional significance. If they come to believe that what their grandparents, parents, or others told them isn’t true, it can feel like the ground is falling out from under them—did they then mislead them? For that reason, I never share my personal opinion in conversations like this and avoid saying “I think” under all circumstances. This keeps the discussion focused on what the Bible says and maintains a healthy relationship between me and the person, leaving the door open for future conversations.

But back to the question: Can a Christian pray to saints or Mary for their intercession?

My answer was, “What does the Bible say about this?”

While some religious traditions permit praying to saints, the Bible speaks clearly on this matter. In Ecclesiastes 9:5, it is written:

For the living know they will die; but the dead do not know anything, nor have they any longer a reward, for their memory is forgotten.

This verse makes it clear that the dead cannot hear us or pray for us. There is no biblical basis to believe that saints, after their death, intercede for us before God.

Moreover, 1 Timothy 2:5-6 emphasizes the unique mediating work of Christ:

For there is one God, and one mediator also between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave Himself as a ransom for all, the testimony given at the proper time.

Jesus is the only Mediator between God and humanity, which means we can pray directly to Him without the intercession of saints or other figures. Through His sacrifice, He has opened the way for our relationship with God.

Additionally, the Bible warns us not to heed voices or apparitions claiming to be saints or Mary. In 2 Corinthians 11:13-15, we read:

For such men are false apostles, deceitful workers, disguising themselves as apostles of Christ. No wonder, for even Satan disguises himself as an angel of light. Therefore it is not surprising if his servants also disguise themselves as servants of righteousness, whose end will be according to their deeds.

We must guard ourselves against deception. Any experience where someone claims to hear the voice of a saint can be very dangerous and is not aligned with the Bible.

Finally, Deuteronomy 18:10-13 warns:

There shall not be found among you anyone who makes his son or his daughter pass through the fire, one who uses divination, one who practices witchcraft, or one who interprets omens, or a sorcerer, or one who casts a spell, or a medium, or a spiritist, or one who calls up the dead. For whoever does these things is detestable to the Lord; and because of these detestable things the Lord your God will drive them out before you. You shall be blameless before the Lord your God.

The Bible warns us to stay away from any form of spiritual communication with the dead. Praying to saints, however well-intentioned, is not in line with biblical teaching and can lead us to deception.

But Mary is special, isn’t she? Absolutely!

Mary was favored and blessed: (Luke 1:28)

And coming in, he said to her, ‘Greetings, favored one! The Lord is with you.

So Mary was indeed chosen by God to be the mother of Jesus. That is certainly special! But ultimately, she was just like you and me: a sinner: (Romans 3:23)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God.

Her faith in (her Son) Jesus has therefore saved her, just as He wants to save you and me from the otherwise terrible price we would have to pay for our sins.

So if people believe they can venerate the Virgin Mary, pray to her, or do anything else (including interceding), they are misled. Ultimately, she was not holy (only God is holy, see Luke 18:19).

But Jesus said to him, ‘Why do you call Me good? No one is good except God alone.

She is no longer a Virgin either (Jesus had brothers and sisters).

Is this not the carpenter, the son of Mary, and the brother of James, and Joses, and Judas, and Simon? And are not His sisters here with us? (Mark 6:3)

Is this not the son of the carpenter? Is not His mother called Mary? And His brothers, James, Joses, Simon, and Judas? And His sisters, are they not all with us? (Matthew 13:55-56)

And Mary also needed God’s grace, just like you and me: (Romans 3:23-24)

For all have sinned and fall short of the glory of God, being justified as a gift by His grace through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus.

And with that, the first part of the conversation was over. The explanation was clear; we had no personal conflict in the discussion, allowing us to move on to questions like “Who is God to you?” and “Who is Christ to you?” to discover what that person truly believed… the God of the Bible, or… This also enabled us to proceed to a clear explanation of the gospel as it is presented in the Bible.

And yes, I could have answered the question, “Can a Christian pray to saints or Mary for their intercession?” with a simple “no” and left it at that, but would that really answer the question? In my opinion, it would not.

But sanctify Christ as Lord in your hearts, always being ready to make a defense to everyone who asks you to give an account for the hope that is in you, yet with gentleness and reverence; (1 Peter 3:15)