Understand the Catholic perspective as I was raised a Catholic. All men and women are sinners...thus I can only pray to a sinless lord and savior.
We don’t PRAY to Mary, we ask her to PRAY or intercede for us... We are most certain that the Saints are alive and looking out for us. That is a huge part of it. It’s why we take a Saint’s name when we are confirmed. Holy Mary pray for me. Saint Michael the archangel, pray for me. Holy christianbasque pray for me, a sinner.