A lot of Catholics (and Eastern Orthodox) will “venerate” Mary and the saints by praying to them. However, the Bible commands us to pray to God and to God alone. There is not one scripture that reads to pray to anyone else. Prayer is an act of worship and thus should only be directed to the Being who is worthy of worship, and this is God alone. When we direct our prayers to God, we are admitting that we need Him. Directing our prayers to anyone other than God is robbing God of the glory that is due to Him alone.

Sadly, Catholics may also “venerate” Mary and the saints by creating statues and images of them. There is not a single scripture that supports such a practice. Many Catholics use images of Mary and/or the saints as “good luck charms.” Even a shallow reading of the Bible will reveal that such practice is blatant idolatry (read Exodus 20:4–6; 1 Corinthians 12:1–2; 1 John 5:21). Rubbing rosary beads is not biblical and is idolatry. Lighting candles before a statue or portrayal of a saint is not supported by any scriptures and is idolatry. Burying a Joseph statue in hopes of selling your home (and countless other Catholic practices) is idolatry.

The Bible reads “I am the LORD: that is my name: and my glory will I not give to another, neither my praise to graven images” (Isaiah 42:8). Idolatry is such a serious sin that those who practice it will not inherit the kingdom of God (Rev. 21:8; 1 Cor. 6:9-11).

The Bible reads that all believers are to be called saints (notice they are on the earth as opposed to in heaven, as found in Roman Catholic theology):

Acts 9:13 “Then Ananias answered, Lord, I have heard by many of this man, how much evil he hath done to thy saints at Jerusalem.”

Acts 9:32 “And it came to pass, as Peter passed throughout all quarters, he came down also to the saints which dwelt at Lydda.”

Acts 9:41 “And he gave her his hand, and lifted her up, and when he had called the saints and widows, presented her alive.”

Acts 26:10 “Which thing I also did in Jerusalem: and many of the saints did I shut up in prison, having received authority from the chief priests; and when they were put to death, I gave my voice against them.”

Romans 1:7 “To all that be in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father, and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Romans 8:27 “And he that searcheth the hearts knoweth what is the mind of the Spirit, because he maketh intercession for the saints according to the will of God.”

Romans 12:13 “Distributing to the necessity of saints; given to hospitality.”

Romans 15:25 “But now I go unto Jerusalem to minister unto the saints.”

Romans 15:26 “For it hath pleased them of Macedonia and Achaia to make a certain contribution for the poor saints which are at Jerusalem.”

Romans 15:31 “That I may be delivered from them that do not believe in Judaea; and that my service which I have for Jerusalem may be accepted of the saints.”

Romans 16:2 “That ye receive her in the Lord, as becometh saints, and that ye assist her in whatsoever business she hath need of you: for she hath been a succourer of many, and of myself also.”

Romans 16:15 “Salute Philologus, and Julia, Nereus, and his sister, and Olympas, and all the saints which are with them.”

1 Corinthians 1:2 “Unto the church of God which is at Corinth, to them that are sanctified in Christ Jesus, called to be saints, with all that in every place call upon the name of Jesus Christ our Lord, both theirs and ours.”

1 Corinthians 6:1 “Dare any of you, having a matter against another, go to law before the unjust, and not before the saints?”

1 Corinthians 14:33 “For God is not the author of confusion, but of peace, as in all churches of the saints.”

1 Corinthians 16:1 “Now concerning the collection for the saints, as I have given order to the churches of Galatia, even so do ye.”

1 Corinthians 16:15 “I beseech you, brethren, (ye know the house of Stephanas, that it is the firstfruits of Achaia, and that they have addicted themselves to the ministry of the saints).”

2 Corinthians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, and Timothy our brother, unto the church of God which is at Corinth, with all the saints which are in all Achaia.”

2 Corinthians 8:4 “Praying us with much intreaty that we would receive the gift, and take upon us the fellowship of the ministering to the saints.”

2 Corinthians 9:1 “For as touching the ministering to the saints, it is superfluous for me to write to you.”

2 Corinthians 9:12 “For the administration of this service not only supplieth the want of the saints, but is abundant also by many thanksgivings unto God.”

2 Corinthians 13:13 “All the saints salute you.”

Ephesians 1:1 “Paul, an apostle of Jesus Christ by the will of God, to the saints which are at Ephesus, and to the faithful in Christ Jesus.”

Ephesians 1:15 “Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints.”

Ephesians 3:8 “Unto me, who am less than the least of all saints, is this grace given, that I should preach among the Gentiles the unsearchable riches of Christ.”

Ephesians 4:12 “For the perfecting of the saints, for the work of the ministry, for the edifying of the body of Christ.”

Ephesians 5:3 “But fornication, and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not be once named among you, as becometh saints.”

Ephesians 6:18 “Praying always with all prayer and supplication in the Spirit, and watching thereunto with all perseverance and supplication for all saints.”

Philippians 1:1 “Paul and Timotheus, the servants of Jesus Christ, to all the saints in Christ Jesus which are at Philippi, with the bishops and deacons.”

Philippians 4:22 “All the saints salute you, chiefly they that are of Caesar’s household.”

Colossians 1:2 “To the saints and faithful brethren in Christ which are at Colosse: Grace be unto you, and peace, from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ.”

Colossians 1:4 “Since we heard of your faith in Christ Jesus, and of the love which ye have to all the saints.”

1 Timothy 5:10 “Well reported of for good works; if she have brought up children, if she have lodged strangers, if she have washed the saints’ feet, if she have relieved the afflicted, if she have diligently followed every good work.”

Philemon 1:5 “Hearing of thy love and faith, which thou hast toward the Lord Jesus, and toward all saints.”

Philemon 1:7 “For we have great joy and consolation in thy love, because the bowels of the saints are refreshed by thee, brother.”

Hebrews 6:10 “For God is not unrighteous to forget your work and labour of love, which ye have shewed toward his name, in that ye have ministered to the saints, and do minister.”

Hebrews 13:24 “Salute all them that have the rule over you, and all the saints. They of Italy salute you.”

Jude 1:3 “Beloved, when I gave all diligence to write unto you of the common salvation, it was needful for me to write unto you, and exhort you that ye should earnestly contend for the faith which was once delivered unto the saints.”

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Addendum

What about the intercession of the saints?

To Roman Catholics and Eastern Orthodox Christians, the intercession of the saints means asking deceased holy people—whom they believe are alive in heaven—to pray to God on their behalf. Some develop a special relationship with a particular saint (a “patron”) based on shared life experiences or profession.

But is this practice biblical?

Every prayer modeled or commanded in Scripture is directed to God alone—the Father, the Son, or the Holy Spirit. There is not a single instance in the Old or New Testament where believers are instructed to petition, invoke, or address a deceased human for prayer or intercession, no matter how righteous that person was in life. Not one example. Not one command. Not one precedent.

Asking a living friend on earth to pray for you is a horizontal request among equals still in the body. But when you direct your words to a being in heaven, you have crossed into vertical petition—the realm the Bible consistently reserves for God alone. This is not a minor distinction; it is the difference between fellowship and prayer.

Christ Is the Sufficient Intercessor

Scripture presents Jesus Christ as the exclusive and all-sufficient intercessor:

“Therefore He is also able to save to the uttermost those who come to God through Him, since He always lives to make intercession for them.” (Hebrews 7:25)

“For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1 Timothy 2:5)

If Christ’s intercession is continuous, perfect, and “to the uttermost,” seeking additional intercessors implies His work is somehow incomplete or insufficient. Why would we go through lesser mediators when we have the perfect one?

The Omnipresence and Knowledge Problem

For saints to hear and respond to thousands or millions of simultaneous prayers from earth requires attributes that belong to God alone: omnipresence (being everywhere at once) and exhaustive knowledge of all hearts and circumstances. The Bible never attributes these to created beings, even glorified ones.

Moreover, how does anyone with absolute certainty know if anyone who passed away is actually in heaven?

Addressing the Dead Is Forbidden

The Old Testament strictly prohibits attempts to contact or consult the dead:

“A man or a woman who is a medium, or who has familiar spirits, or who is a spiritist… shall surely be put to death.” (Leviticus 20:27; see also Deuteronomy 18:10-12; Isaiah 8:19)

While Catholic and Orthodox theologians distinguish this from “prayer to saints” (arguing it is not necromancy for information but a request for prayer), the biblical texts draw a broad line against initiating communication with the departed. The absence of any positive biblical example makes the practice rest on later tradition rather than Scripture.

How Jesus Taught Us to Pray

Jesus gave clear, direct instructions:

“But you, when you pray, go into your room, and when you have shut your door, pray to your Father who is in the secret place; and your Father who sees in secret will reward you openly.” (Matthew 6:6)

“In this manner, therefore, pray: Our Father in heaven, hallowed be Your name…” (Matthew 6:9)

“And in that day you will ask Me nothing. Most assuredly, I say to you, whatever you ask the Father in My name He will give you.” (John 16:23)

“If you ask anything in My name, I will do it.” (John 14:14)

Other clear commands point in the same direction:

• “If My people who are called by My name will humble themselves, and pray and seek My face…” (2 Chronicles 7:14)
• “Be anxious for nothing, but in everything by prayer and supplication, with thanksgiving, let your requests be made known to God.” (Philippians 4:6)
• “If any of you lacks wisdom, let him ask of God…” (James 1:5)

There is no mention of departed saints, Mary, or any mere human intermediary. If asking saints to intercede were a valid and helpful practice, why did Jesus and the apostles never teach or model it?

The Torn Veil and Direct Access

Theologically, the intercession of saints risks reintroducing the Old Testament “middleman” system that Christ abolished:

“And behold, the veil of the temple was torn in two from top to bottom…” (Matthew 27:51)

“Therefore, brethren, having boldness to enter the Holiest by the blood of Jesus, by a new and living way which He consecrated for us, through the veil, that is, His flesh…” (Hebrews 10:19-20)

God Himself tore the veil from top to bottom, granting believers direct access to His presence through Christ’s blood. Inserting saints as necessary or advantageous intermediaries effectively “sews the veil back up” and steps back from the “new and living way.” We are invited to come boldly to the throne of grace (Hebrews 4:16), not through additional layers of mediation.