...so how can we pray with Mary – or any others who have died?
You’re correct, Dear. But you cannot read Scripture with men’s thoughts clouding your mind. Ask Holy Spirit to help you understand. We who are now alive on this Earth, and die in the Lord – NEVER DIE. We continue on in our work for the Kingdom in Heaven.
Holy Spirit empowers those who dedicated their lives to the Lord HERE, to still intercede from THERE. Including and especially Jesus’ mother. And because He IS Holy Spirit, and, like God and Jesus, is everywhere at once – those interceding through Him, before the Father, on our behalf are aware of those needing or asking for pray here – no matter how many there are.
Think of it like…a radio broadcast from here to Heaven. We pray. We ask for prayer – and through Holy Spirit, MANY hear the call to prayer and respond.
Praying For Each Other James 5:16ESV Therefore, confess your sins to one another and pray for one another, that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous person has great power as it is working.
Ephesians 6:18ESV Praying at all times in the Spirit, with all prayer and supplication. To that end keep alert with all perseverance, making supplication for all the saints…
Ecclesiastes 4:9-12 ESV Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil. For if they fall, one will lift up his fellow. But woe to him who is alone when he falls and has not another to lift him up! Again, if two lie together, they keep warm, but how can one keep warm alone? And though a man might prevail against one who is alone, two will withstand him—a threefold cord is not quickly broken.
Colossians 1:9 ESV And so, from the day we heard, we have not ceased to pray for you, asking that you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding,
Romans 8:26-27 ESV Likewise the Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God.