We're asking a good woman who's now in heaven with Jesus to pray for us. We're not talking to a statue!
Good gracious, this whole issue was hashed out over 1200 years ago. Are you familiar with the Seventh Ecumenical Council?
It was held in Nicea, Asia Minor in 787. It centered around the use of icons in the Church. The Iconoclasts ("icon-smashers")demanded that the Church rid itself of religious art. The iconophilles ("Icon-lovers") believed that icons preserve the doctrinal teachings of the Church and express the divine through art and beauty.
After much debate, the Council issued this Poclamation:
"We define that the holy icons, whether in color, mosaic, or some other material, should be exhibited in the holy churches of God, on the sacred vessels and liturgical vestments, on the walls, furnishings, and in houses and along the roads, namely the icons of our Lord God and Savior Jesus Christ, that of our Lady the Theotokos ("Mother of God"), those of the venerable angels and those of all saintly people.
"Whenever these representations are contemplated, they will cause those who look at them to commemorate and love their prototype (the reality which they represent.) We define also that they should be kissed and that they are an object of veneration and honor ("timitiki proskynisis"), but not of real worship ("latreia"), which is reserved for Him Who is the subject of our faith and is proper for the divine nature."
This is the teaching of the Church.
1 Timothy 3:15
"...you will know how people ought to conduct themselves in God's household, which is the church of the living God, the pillar and foundation of the truth."
Why not pray to The Father through The Son as instructed in The Bible? Again, nowhere in The Bible does it advocate praying to anyone else. The Ten Commandments specifically state to NOT make and bow to or pray to any image.
Are you saying that Jesus does not hear your prayers unless you ask through someone else? What's the point of praying to anyone else but GOD?