The Patrick Madrid Show Why Do Catholics Pray to Mary and the Saints If They Are Dead? (Special Podcast Highlight)
On The Patrick Madrid Show, a caller named Connie asked Patrick how to explain to her uncle away from the Faith why Catholics pray to Mary and the saints—aren’t they passed away? Doesn’t the Bible say Jesus is the only mediator?
Mary & the Saints
Patrick pulls out Mark 12:27 where Jesus says:
“He is not the God of the dead but of the living.”
Abraham, Isaac, Jacob, Mary—they’re alive in God. Mary isn’t just a memory or some dusty relic in a tomb. She was assumed body and soul into heaven and is gloriously alive in God’s presence.
We’re asking living members of Christ’s body to pray for us.
But Doesn’t the Bible Say Jesus Is the Only Mediator?
Yes! 1 Timothy 2:5 says:
“There is one mediator between God and man, the man Christ Jesus.”
Right before that, Paul tells us to:
-offer prayers
-intercede for each other
-give thanks for everyone, even kings
In other words, Jesus is the bridge that makes it possible for us to pray for each other. When we ask Mary or the saints to pray for us, we’re not replacing Jesus. We’re joining the family prayer chain.
Picture the Prayer Triangle
Patrick gave this helpful visual:
-You ask your friend to pray for you (left point)
-Friend brings your prayer to God (top point)
-God answers with blessings (back down to you)
Same thing when we ask Mary or a saint:
We’re just asking a friend of God—someone already perfected in love and close to His heart to join us in prayer.
We’re not treating Mary or saints like gods. We’re asking them to pray with us and for us because we’re all part of the Body of Christ, across heaven and earth. It’s relational, not competitive.
Want to go deeper? Patrick has a free article called Any Friend of God’s Is a Friend of Mine. It’s packed with biblical examples and clear explanations.