Why do Catholics and some other Christians pray to Mary and other saints?

Answer 1

With all due respect to the Catholics who use the saints to act on their behalf. Praying to them, including Mary is not important, it is not even possible. If there is anyone who God has given permission to act on His behalf it is Jesus Christ only. We pray to our Father in personal prayer then close in the name of Jesus Christ. Praying to Mary or any other saint is a man made dogma.

Catholic Answer:Asking for Mary's intercession is important because she, as being the Mother of God, is the closest Saint to Our Lord. And as with Queen Mother's in the Biblical Davidic lineage, she intercedes on our behalf to her Son. Some New Testament teaching on prayer:Matthew 6:6, 7 - "But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Fatherwho is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly. And when you pray, do not use vain repetitions as the heathen do. For they think that they will be heard for their many words."

Luke 11:1, 2 - Now it came to pass, as He was praying in a certain place, when He ceased, that one of His disciples said to Him, "Lord, teach us to pray, as John also taught his disciples." So He said to them, "When you pray, say: Our Father in heaven, Hallowed be Your name. Your kingdom come. Your will be done On earth as it is in heaven."

John 16:25-27 - "These things I have spoken to you in figurative language; but the time is coming when I will no longer speak to you in figurative language, but I will tell you plainly about the Father. In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you; for the Father Himself loves you, because you have loved Me, and have believed that I came forth from God."

Acts 10:1-4 - There was a certain man in Caesarea called Cornelius, a centurion of what was called the Italian Regiment, a devout man and one who feared God with all his household, who gave alms generously to the people, and prayed to God always. About the ninth hour of the day he saw clearly in a vision an angel of God coming in and saying to him, "Cornelius!" And when he observed him, he was afraid, and said, "What is it, lord?" So he said to him, "Your prayers and your alms have come up for a memorial before God."

Acts 12:5 - Peter was therefore kept in prison, but constant prayer was offered to God for him by the church.

Romans 8:26 - Likewise the Spirit also helps in our weaknesses. For we do not know what we should pray for as we ought, but the Spirit Himself makes intercession for us with groanings which cannot be uttered.

Romans 8:34 - Who is he who condemns? It is Christ who died, and furthermore is also risen, who is even at the right hand of God, who also makes intercession for us.

Romans 15:30 - Now I beg you, brethren, through the Lord Jesus Christ, and through the love of the Spirit, that you strive together with me in prayers to God for me,

2 Corinthians 13:7 - Now I pray to God that you do no evil, not that we should appear approved, but that you should do what is honorable, though we may seem disqualified.

Philippians 4:6, 7 - Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God; and the peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and minds through Christ Jesus.

1 Thessalonians 1:2 - We give thanks to Godalways for you all, making mention of you in our prayers,

Hebrews 7:25 - Therefore He [Jesus] is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.

1 Peter 3:12 - For the eyes of the Lord are on the righteous, And His ears are open to their prayers; But the face of the Lord is against those who do evil.

No references to praying to or through Mary were omitted; there aren't any. There is a very telling Scriptural exchange regarding Mary, though, when an attempt was made to venerate her:

Luke 11:27, 28 - And it happened, as He [Jesus] spoke these things, that a certain woman from the crowd raised her voice and said to Him, "Blessed is the womb that bore You, and the breasts which nursed You!" But He said, "More than that, blessed are those who hear the word of God and keep it!"

Jesus had perfect opportunity to proclaim Mary "Mother of God" and incorporate her into worship...but He did just the opposite. Know The Bible; learn the truth.

[Quotes from NKJV]

Answer 2

We pray to Mary and saints for intersession, special appeals. I don't quite understand this. God knows all and sees all and is supposed to be immutable. I somehow think that these prayers are more for us, Do we think that when we pray for Him to change His mind, He will. Perhaps, we should pray for the ability to accept His will. If He can be swayed by what we mortals think, vs. what He knows, we might be in trouble.

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Catholic AnswerThis question continues to boggle my mind. (The following is extracted from The Exxential Catholic Survival Guide, pages 91-97) Even though the historical - and Biblical - practice of asking our departed brothers and sister in Christ - the Saints - for their intercession dates to the very earliest days of Christianity and is shared by Catholics, Eastern Orthodox, other Eastern Christians, and even some Anglicans -- meaning that all-told it is shared by more than three-quarters of the Christians on earth -- it still comes under heavy attach from many within the protestant heresy that started in the sixteenth century.

Scripture clearly indicates that those in heaven are aware of our prayers, for example in Revelation 5:8. Plus, of course, St. Paul says that we should intercede for each other: 1 Tim 2:1-4, so, the the saints in heaven, who love us, and are much closer to Our Blessed Lord then we are, would certainly intercede for us. The Bible clearly directs us to invoke those in heaven and ask them to pray for us, see Psalm 103, particularly verses 20-21, Revelations 8:3-4, and Revelation 5:8.

And, of course, we have clear and explicit directions from The Catechism, which has the same author as the Bible:

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from The Catechism of the Catholic Church, second edition, English translation 1994

956 The intercession of the saints. "Being more closely united to Christ, those who dwell in heaven fix the whole Church more firmly in holiness . . . [T]hey do not cease to intercede with the Father for us, as they proffer the merits which they acquired on earth through the one mediator between God and men, Christ Jesus . . . so by their fraternal concern is our weakness greatly helped." (Lumen Gentium 49; cf. 1 Tim 2:5

Do not weep, for I shall be more useful to you after my death and I shall help you then more effectively than during my life. (St. Dominic, dying, to his brothers)

I want to spend my heaven in doing good on earth. (St. Thérèse of Lisieux, The Final Conversations, tr. John Clarke {Washington: ICS [Institute of Carmelite Studies], 1977}, 102.

957 Communion with the saints. "It is not merely by the title of example that we cherish the memory of those in heaven; we seek, rather, that by this devotion to the exercise of fraternal charity the union of the whole Church in the spirit may be strengthened. Exactly as Christian communion among our fellow pilgrims brings us closer to Christ, so our communion with the saints joins us to Christ, from whom as from its fountain and head issues all grace, and the life of the People of God itself" (Lumen Gentium 50; cf. Eph 4:1-6):

We worship Christ as God's Son; we love the martyrs as the Lord's disciples and imitators, and rightly so because of their matchless devotion towards their king and master. May we also be their companions and fellow disciples! (Martyrium Polycarpi, 17: Apostolic Fathers II/3, 396)

2683 The witnesses who have preceded us into the kingdom, (Cf. Heb 12:1) especially those whom the Church recognizes as saints, share in the living tradition of prayer by the example of their lives, the transmission of their writings, and their prayer today. They contemplate God, praise him and constantly care for those whom they have left on earth. When they entered into the joy of their Master, they were "put in charge of many things." (Cf. Mt 25:21) Their intercession is their most exalted service to God's plan. We can and should ask them to intercede for us and for the whole world.

And, of course, there is always the question: Why not? Catholic believe in the Communion of the Saints: the unity and co-operation of all the members of the Church, both on earth (the Church Militant), in purgatory (the Church Suffering), and in heaven (the Church Triumphant). Unlike most protestants, Catholics believe that we are all alive in Christ, and that those in heaven (the definition of a "saint") are much more alive than we are on earth. Not only are they alive, but they are much closer to God.

In addition, Catholics use the word "pray" differently than protestants. Catholics use the word more in the old meaning: to entreat or implore, an example in the dictionary is "pray be careful". The use in common say in the English court system. Protestants tend to reserve the word to worship God, but that is not its meaning. Thus when a person prays to Mary, they are simply giving her the honor that Jesus gave her as His Mother, and He in turn gave her to us in the person of St. John, at the cross, when He said, "Behold your mother." So we are asking Mary to intercede with God for us, just as anyone would ask another person to pray for them, for instance if they were ill.

We ask the saints to intercede for us, as well. They can do nothing on their own, only what God permits them or allows them to do. But just as you can help your brother here on earth, when you are in heaven, you are still going to be concerned about him and love him, and you will help him all you are able. So, in turn, your brother can pray to you (if you are in heaven) and ask you to assist him. Thus it is with the saints who are our older brothers and sisters in the faith who are now with God.

Modern protestants use the word "pray" in a manner synonymous with "worship", this is not the meaning of the word. In English, one could say, pray to entreat, to ask, etc. From Dictionary.net:

pray, or (by ellipsis) Pray, I beg; I request; I entreat you; -- used in asking a question, making a request, introducing a petition, etc.; as, Pray, allow me to go. [1913 Webster]

I pray, sir. why am I beaten? --Shak. [1913 Webster]

Syn: To entreat; supplicate; beg; implore; invoke; beseech; petition. [1913 Webster]

Catholics believe that the saints are alive in heaven, and much more holy than we are, here on earth. Further, they believe, that, just as you would ask a friend to pray for you, the Saints are our friends, and we can ask them to pray for us as well.

As to your assumption that the Bible prohibits praying to Saints, you are wrong, for instance in the Apocalypse, probably know to you as the book of Revelation, the saints are offering our prayers to God in heaven! Now how are they going to do that if we don't tell them what our prayers are?

Answer 3

People to not pray for the Virgin Mary. They pray to the Virgin mary to ask her to intercede on our behalf to her son Jesus for some special favor.

Answer 4

Because she is Our Lord's Blessed Mother & Our Blessed Mother too.