Being closer to Jesus means nothing if you do not believe in him.
Ave you ever met a single person that said they owed their belief in Jesus to his mom?
Jesus did not say believe in my mom, or look to my mom to believe in Me.
Of course, one must believe that Jesus is the Son of God, and was crucified, and rose, or all is for naught. Every Catholic I know who venerates Mary, believes in and worships Jesus. Jesus is Lord; Mary’s just His mom. But in that alone, having been chosen to bear the Incarnation, makes her unique among mortal humans.