For centuries, Mary, the mother of Jesus, has been honored and revered by Christians around the world.
Some traditions encourage praying to Mary as an intercessor, while others believe that prayer should be directed to God alone.
This difference has led to much discussion about what the Bible truly teaches on the subject.
Mary played a unique and blessed role in God’s plan for salvation, but does Scripture support the practice of praying to her?
Understanding what the Bible says about prayer, worship, and intercession is crucial in answering this question.
By exploring Scripture, we can determine whether praying to Mary aligns with God’s design for prayer and devotion.
Mary’s Role in the Bible
Mary’s story is one of faith, obedience, and divine purpose.
She was chosen by God to give birth to Jesus, the Savior of the world.
Luke 1:28 records the angel Gabriel greeting her with, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”
Mary responded with humility and trust, declaring in Luke 1:38, “I am the Lord’s servant.
May your word to me be fulfilled.”
Her willingness to submit to God’s plan made her an important figure in the life of Jesus and the history of Christianity.
However, while Mary was highly favored, the Bible never presents her as someone to be prayed to.
Throughout Scripture, prayer is always directed to God alone.
Prayer in the Bible: Who Should We Pray To?
Prayer is a central part of a believer’s relationship with God.
It is how people communicate with Him, seek His guidance, and express their faith.
The Bible consistently teaches that prayer should be directed to God.
Psalm 5:2 says, “Hear my cry for help, my King and my God, for to You I pray.”
Jesus Himself taught His followers how to pray, saying in Matthew 6:9, “This, then, is how you should pray: ‘Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name.’”
He did not direct His disciples to pray to anyone else—not even to Mary.
First Timothy 2:5 makes it clear that there is only one mediator between God and mankind:
“For there is one God and one mediator between God and mankind, the man Christ Jesus.”
This verse highlights that Jesus alone serves as the bridge between humanity and God.
Nowhere in Scripture is Mary, or any other person, given that role.
Is Mary an Intercessor?
Some believe that because Mary was the mother of Jesus, she holds a special position as an intercessor.
They argue that asking Mary to pray on their behalf is similar to asking a friend to pray for them.
However, there is a major difference between asking another believer for prayer and directing prayers to someone who has passed from this life.
The Bible encourages believers to pray for one another.
James 5:16 says, “Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.
The prayer of a righteous person is powerful and effective.”
But nowhere does Scripture say that believers should pray to those who have died.
Prayers in the Bible are always directed to God, never to saints or Mary.
Jesus, not Mary, is the one who intercedes for us before God.
Hebrews 7:25 tells us, “Therefore He is able to save completely those who come to God through Him, because He always lives to intercede for them.”
The Risk of Elevating Mary Too High
Mary is honored in the Bible, but she is never worshiped.
She was a faithful servant of God, but she was still human, not divine.
Some traditions place Mary in a highly exalted position, even referring to her as “Queen of Heaven” or a co-mediator with Christ.
However, the Bible never gives her these titles.
In fact, Jesus Himself made it clear that all who follow God’s will are equally blessed.
In Luke 11:27-28, a woman in the crowd said to Jesus, “Blessed is the mother who gave You birth and nursed You.”
Jesus replied, “Blessed rather are those who hear the word of God and obey it.”
Jesus did not deny that Mary was blessed, but He emphasized that obedience to God was more important than earthly relationships—even His relationship with His own mother.
This response shows that while Mary was special, she was not meant to be an object of worship or prayer.
What About Mary’s Appearances and Miracles?
Throughout history, some have claimed that Mary has appeared in visions or performed miracles.
These reports have led many to believe that she plays an active role in responding to prayers.
However, the Bible warns against seeking supernatural experiences outside of God’s Word.
Second Corinthians 11:14 states, “And no wonder, for Satan himself masquerades as an angel of light.”
Not every spiritual experience is from God.
The Bible calls believers to test everything against Scripture.
First John 4:1 says, “Dear friends, do not believe every spirit, but test the spirits to see whether they are from God.”
God’s Word never tells us to expect appearances from Mary, nor does it suggest that she has divine powers.
All power and authority belong to God alone.
Worship Belongs to God Alone
One of the strongest warnings in Scripture is against worshiping anyone other than God.
Throughout the Bible, when people mistakenly worshiped angels or humans, they were corrected.
In Revelation 19:10, when John fell at the feet of an angel to worship him, the angel said, “Don’t do that!
I am a fellow servant with you and with your brothers and sisters who hold to the testimony of Jesus.
Worship God!”
If even angels refuse worship, how much more should humans refuse it?
Mary never sought worship.
She pointed people to God.
In Luke 1:46-47, she declared, “My soul glorifies the Lord and my spirit rejoices in God my Savior.”
Even Mary recognized her need for a Savior.
She was a humble servant, not a figure to be prayed to.
The Bible’s Alternative: A Direct Relationship with God
One of the greatest blessings of Christianity is direct access to God.
Believers do not need to go through Mary, saints, or religious figures to reach Him.
Hebrews 4:16 encourages, “Let us then approach God’s throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need.”
God invites His children to come directly to Him in prayer.
There is no barrier, no special process—just a loving Father ready to listen.
Jesus made this possible through His death and resurrection.
When He died, the temple curtain was torn in two, symbolizing that people no longer needed a priest or mediator to approach God (Matthew 27:51).
Through Christ, every believer has personal access to the Creator of the universe.
Final Thoughts
The Bible is clear that prayer is meant to be directed to God alone.
While Mary was a faithful and honored servant of God, she is not someone to whom the Bible tells us to pray.
Jesus is the one mediator between God and humanity, and He is the only one who intercedes on our behalf.
God invites His people to come directly to Him, without the need for any other intercessors.
If you have been struggling with the idea of praying to Mary, take comfort in knowing that God Himself wants to hear from you.
He is not distant or unreachable.
Through Jesus, you can boldly approach Him, knowing that He listens, He cares, and He answers.
True peace, comfort, and guidance come not from Mary, but from the One she herself worshiped—God Almighty.