[DungeonMaster]

How does the word blessed get promoted to venerate?

[annalex]

To venerate a saint is to praise him, acknowledge his example and ask for his prayers to God. This is for example, the most common way of venerating Mary, the Hail Mary prayer:

Hail, Mary, full of grace
the Lord is with you
blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy womb, Jesus

Holy Mary, Mother of God
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death

Amen

Here Mary is put in the context of her connection to Jesus and praised as uniquely blessed. She is then asked to pray for us at all times and expecially as we die.