[evangmlw]

We only ask her to intercede on our behalf. Paul said, there is only One Mediator between man and God, the man Christ Jesus" Mary nor any other saint can mediate for anyone. Christ now intercedes on our behalf before God the Father. I would prefer His intecession above Mary's.

[AnAmericanMother]

Of course Christ is the only Mediator, and you won't find a (properly catechized) Catholic who says differently.

But intercession is quite different from mediation. You're conflating the two terms -- but words mean things.

Intercession is what you do when you ask a friend, or your brother, or your church congregation to pray for a sick family member. Catholics believe that the blessed in Heaven are as much a part of the Church as those of us still alive on earth, and we ask them to pray for us as we would ask somebody in our Sunday School class to pray for us. And since Mary is the Mother of God and the Queen Mother (check 1st Kings), we often ask her to intercede for us to her Son. She in turn reminds us, "Do whatever he tells you to." (John 2)

Nothing the Virgin Mary does detracts one iota from the glory and majesty of her Son, nor would she ever want to do such a thing. She points the way to him and helps Christians towards him, just as a particularly righteous member of your church might help you towards God.