That's interesting. Thank you for your patience with my questions. I'm wondering if praying through saints and Mary can be found in the Bible and if you know the chapter and verse? My sincere thanks for your indulgence. God's Grace to you!
There are around six different Greek words that are usually translated into English as 'prayer'. These words encompass supplications, intercessions, thanksgiving, etc. Prayer to the saints is not worship! Perhaps this misconception came about from bad translation? At any rate, I Timothy 2:4 upholds the practice of intercession for others, and we are quite cognizant of the fact that Christ's mediation is what makes intercession possible.
So, on that note, let me address the topic (if it hasn't been brought up already) of there only being one mediator between God and man- Jesus Christ. We don't disagree. We do go directly to the Holy Trinity in prayer. However, just like you have people at church pray to for you, we see asking the saints for prayers as being no different.
Asking the saints for prayers is no different to us because the saints are ALIVE IN CHRIST.
The following are relevant scripture about the saints being alive in Christ:
John 6:47-51
Verily, verily, I say unto you, He that believeth on me hath everlasting life. I am that bread of life. Your fathers did eat manna in the wilderness, and are dead. This is the bread which cometh down from heaven, that a man may eat thereof, and not die. I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 5:25-29
Truly, truly, I say to you, the hour is coming, and now is, when the dead will hear the voice of the Son of God, and those who hear will live. For as the Father has life in himself, so he has granted the Son also to have life in himself, and has given him authority to execute judgment, because he is the Son of man. Do not marvel at this; for the hour is coming when all who are in the tombs will hear his voice and come forth, those who have done good, to the resurrection of life, and those who have done evil, to the resurrection of judgment.
Matthew 27:51-53
And behold, the veil of the sanctuary was torn in two from top to bottom. The earth quaked, rocks were split, tombs were opened, and the bodies of many saints who had fallen asleep were raised. And coming forth from their tombs after his resurrection, they entered the holy city and appeared to many.
John 11:23-27
Jesus said to her, Your brother will rise.
Martha said to him, I know he will rise, in the resurrection on the last day.
Jesus told her, I am the resurrection and the life; whoever believes in me, even if he dies, will live, and everyone who lives and believes in me will never die. Do you believe this?
She said to him, Yes, Lord. I have come to believe that you are the Messiah, the Son of God, ...
Matthew 22:32
I am the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob? He is not the God of the dead but of the living.
Luke 20:38
and he is not God of the dead, but of the living, for to him all are alive.
John 8:51
Amen, amen, I say to you, whoever keeps my word will never see death.
Hebrews 12:1
Therefore, since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us rid ourselves of every burden and sin that clings to us and persevere in running the race that lies before us"
