Questions / Mary and the saints

If there is one mediator, why ask saints to pray?

Scripture

Answered on video by Catholic Answers

Video: 1 Timothy 2:5 Explained: One Mediator Between God and Man, Catholic Answers Live, published Jun 1, 2017. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Catholics agree: one mediator, Christ. Asking a saint to pray for you is like asking a friend, just a friend in heaven. 1 Timothy 2:5

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Scripture is clear: “there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.” 1 Timothy 2:5

The saints in heaven don’t stop interceding for us; they offer their prayers through that one mediator, Christ Jesus. CCC 956

James says “pray for one another” and that the prayer of a righteous person is powerful. James 5:16

Our words

You ask friends to pray for you, and nobody thinks that replaces Jesus. Catholics believe the saints are alive in Christ, so they ask them too.

Watch another on this

Play video: Why Do Catholics Pray to the Saints?, Ascension Presents, from Ascension Presents, 8 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Why do Catholics pray to saints?

Play video: Why Have a Patron Saint?, Catholic Answers, from Catholic Answers Live, 4 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

What is a patron saint?

Play video: Why do Catholics pray to Mary and the Saints?, Catholic Answers, from Catholic Answers Live, 5 min. Loads from YouTube when pressed.

Why do Catholics pray to Mary?

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Sources on this page

How we know · 1 Catechism paragraph · 2 Bible passages

1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 956 (official text on vatican.va).
2. Scripture (World English Bible, Catholic edition, public domain; modern verse numbers, Douay-Rheims numbers in brackets where they differ): 1 Timothy 2:5; James 5:16.

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