I believe the word you are looking for to describe such persons is “saints”. Even among them, some are more laudable than others in how closely they follow Christ. I would say Mary, knowing him more intimately than any other, would rank near the top.
In the broad (Biblical) sense, yes. As Roman Catholicism narrowly defines them (where the church has to confer officially sanctioned sainthood), no.
In the New Testament, a "saint" is a person identified by their holiness (note the close sound of even "holiness" and halios -- the underlying Greek word for "saint").
It is used in a corporate plural sense almost 100% of the time (IoW, the focus is NOT on the individual person). A "saint" is a "holy one among holy ones"; to make it about individuals rips it out of its New Testament context.
And the way it was used by Paul shows it was simply another interchangeable reference to "Christian." Examples of that:
* 7 To ALL who are in Rome, beloved of God, called to be saints: Grace to you and peace from God our Father and the Lord Jesus Christ. (Romans 1:7) [Roman Catholicism might have you believe that not ALL in Christ who were in Rome when Paul wrote this were not called to be saints]
* 15 Greet Philologus and Julia, Nereus and his sister, and Olympas, and ALL the saints who are with them. (Romans 16:15) [Roman Catholicism might have you believe that an abundance of "special" saints were in this one household]
* 21 Greet EVERY saint in Christ Jesus. (Phil 4:21) [This verse kind of shatters the Roman notion of "sainthood"]
13 distributing to the needs of the saints (Romans 12:13)
So...beyond THESE clarifications, my previous comment stands: It applies to many in Christ beyond Mary -- and who have yet to be conferred special "sainthood" status by the Romans.
I would say Mary, knowing him more intimately than any other, would rank near the top.
I HAD to chuckle very heartily at this statement.
Why? You're telling me that Roman Catholics are suddenly prioritizing who has most intimate knowledge of the Divine One as "THE priority" to approach in interceding for them?
Well, if THIS were truly so...
... do I even need to point out...
... that if we're praying to Heavenly Father as Jesus indicates to do (Mt. 6:6, 9; 26:53; John 14:12, 16; 16:26; most of John 17)...
...that's it's JESUS who "knows" the Father "more intimately than any other"
-- and that if you were at all consistent in applying that notion equally across the board --
-- you'd start, continue and end your prayers to the Father thru Jesus His Son, your personal Intercessor?
Even here, Jesus had a sense of spiritually weaning His disciples...didn't Jesus say?
In that day you will ask in My name, and I do not say to you that I shall pray the Father for you... (John 16:26)
IoW...Jesus is teaching us ALL to be TRUE adopted children who approach their "Abba" Father DIRECTLY --
...And when I say "directly" as a child WILL approach their FATHER directly...
And in John 16:26 Jesus is encouraging His disciples not to to slough off in only letting the Son pray on our behalf, but to approach Him directly...
...albeit NOT in any authority of our own, or of Mary, or of some "saint," but "in My name."
Sorry; but your chosen religion has taken the BIBLICAL definition of saint; and twisted it into something entirely different.
Which SHOULD we use here?