[D-fendr]

Maybe our confusion here is based on the use of the word "pray."

I use it, as it is also used in scripture, to mean "ask."

So if I say, "I pray you, Full Court, ask God to help me, a poor sinner," I'm asking for you to pray to God on my behalf.

This is intercessory prayer.

So we can see how confusion would occur, I'm praying to you.

A parallel with saints would be Hail Mary in the line "pray for us sinners.."

So in both cases I'm praying, asking, for someone to pray for me. And if intercessory prayer is ok for you (correct me if I'm wrong), this should clear that part up.

Which still leaves what I pointed to earlier about the Communion of Saints. I think we must still have some difference of belief about the saints in heaven. Which is why I ask again: Do you believe the saints in heaven are part of the Body of Christ?

I think maybe in this aspect we'll find where our true difference in belief lie.

thanks for your reply..

[Full Court]

So we can see how confusion would occur, I'm praying to you.

You have a way of reaching me to ask me to pray FOR YOU.

You do not have any way at all of reaching Mary or other dead people to ask them to pray for you.

You are not told to do so in Scripture. And you are not told to pray to them.

So why do it?