Mary as Intercessor

Growing up as Pentecostal the idea that Mary or any saint would intercede on our behalf was viewed as absurd. In fact, we often derided Roman Catholics for “worshiping” Mary. But as I’ve talked with my Catholic peers, they pointed out they don’t pray to Mary in the same way they pray to God, but rather they view Mary (and the other saints) as Intercessors, who go to God on our behalf. 

Now that one sentence will make most of my fellow Protestant peers wince and say: we don’t believe in intermediates that need to go to God on our behalf or Jesus is the only intermediary that we need.”  For me, when I view Mary as an intercessor, it’s not because we as humans can’t pray to God or approach God on our own, but I view the idea of Mary interceding for us in a similar manner as when I pray to God on behalf of other people. 

Do I think that I am more worthy to approach God than the person I am praying for? No.  But I believe that something mysterious happens in prayer, I do not view prayer to God as praying to some sort of genie or cosmic Santa Claus, but neither do I think prayer is just talking to myself.

 I do not believe prayer is to be used in place of meaningful action, i.e. after a mass shooting we need meaningful gun reform, not more prayers, but I believe prayer can empower and inspire us to act. I believe God can and does work through prayers, (if we humans are open to actually doing work). Something beautiful and mysterious happens during prayer, especially when we pray on behalf of others. 

I could be a thousand percent wrong: perhaps Mary and others who have died are too busy being enveloped in God’s love to pay attention to those of us who are still living. I don’t know. But it brings me comfort to imagine that someone who spent her life raising and caring for the Son of God and preaching a God that liberates, is praying on my behalf.

Image: Background: Pink. Clip art of hands folded in prayer. Text: Prayer does not take the place of meaningful action.