Hey good..,
I believe the problem originates from what I have been told by protestants I trust who have told me that prayer is worship and worship is prayer so if you are praying to Mary you are in fact worshiping her.
However, if protestants have only one kind of prayer, which is always ‘worship’; it should be fairly obvious that is the catch.
Because for a Catholic there at least seven distinct types of prayer that I am aware of and probably others I am not.
Distinct Catholic Prayer Types:
1) Adoration - as I understand it equivalent to a protestant’s worship;
2) Contrition - a prayer of sorrow and repentance;
3) Thanksgiving - such as saying grace before meals;
4) Supplication - a request for strength, healing or help;
5) Meditation - prayer for understanding a particularly deep aspect of Christ’s life - like the Agony in the garden;
6) Contemplation - a prayer state of being open to hearing the words of the Holy Spirit; and
7) lectio divinia - a very slow, deliberate contemplation on a scriptural passage or passages.
My Prayer for today:
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
My Lord and My God, how truly wonderful and glorious you are.
Forgive me for my transgressions and weaknesses of this day, as I am sorry for how they hurt you, especially for slighting my wife and daughter last night.
Thank you for all the gifts you have bestowed on me and my family, as we have been blessed out of all proportion to what we deserve.
I ask for for the grace to better serve my family who I know represent you on earth, and I ask for patience and forbearance from those I don’t understand.
I ask this through Jesus Christ who lives and reigns world without end amen.
In the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, Amen.
For the Greater Glory of God
I'm sorry to hear that somebody did that (?)--- and sorry to hear of it too, mixed in with publicly pronounced prayer as it is, that is addressed more directly to God the Father, in the name of Christ --- which by-passes going though "Mary" to get there --- which part looks like progress to me.
Carry on, soldier. As you were.
See; that really wasn't so hard; was it!
You didn't mention Mary at all!
Thank you for sending your prayer Heavenward. Your prayers ARE important to us; but all of our representatives are busy right now. Stay on the line until a representive can get to you shortly.
{cue Gregorian chant #45}