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Questions / Mary and the saints

Why do Catholics pray to Mary?

Church teaching

Answered on video by Catholic Answers

Video: Why do Catholics pray to Mary and the Saints?, Catholic Answers Live, published Mar 14, 2016. Checked 10 October 2026. Loads from YouTube (privacy-enhanced mode) only when you press play. Watch on YouTube

In short: Because her role as mother flows from Christ’s and depends entirely on it. You’re asking her to pray, not to replace Him. CCC 2679 CCC 970

The answer, in writing

Church teaching

Mary’s role as mother of men “in no way obscures or diminishes this unique mediation of Christ, but rather shows its power.” CCC 970

When we pray to her we join her in the Father’s plan; she is the mother of all the living, and we can pray with her and to her. CCC 2679

Our words

Jesus gave her to us from the cross: “Behold, your mother.” Asking her to pray for you is just being family.

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Related questions

Do Catholics worship Mary? Fr. Gregory Pine, OP on Pints with Aquinas · 7 minIf there is one mediator, why ask saints to pray? Catholic Answers · 8 minAren’t statues and icons forbidden images? Catholic Answers · 11 minDid Jesus have brothers and sisters? Dr. Brant Pitre · 17 min

Sources on this page

How we know · 2 Catechism paragraphs
  1. Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraphs 970, 2679 (official text on vatican.va).

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