In the case of Mary, we pray to her both out of respect and also to ask her, essentially, to put in a good word for us with her Son.
-——————————————————————————I Don`t want to take sides here but you say that you pray to Mary while so many others deny actually praying to her.
So is it taught different in one Church than it is in another or what?
I’ve not seen any denial of prayer to Mary; I’ve seen denial (and maintain denial myself) that we worship Mary.