Catholics pray TO saints and make requests TO them. Here are some examples made by a brief google search.
These people can’t do anything FOR us. If it were just a matter of asking them to pry for us, that could be defensible, but these prayers are petitions to them. And prayers to ANGELS? What’s with that?
One thing that stuck out at me was the massive number of those who have been granted the title of *Saint*. It’s astounding. Maybe the purpose is for exhorting those of us here on earth by their exemplary life, but I’ve never heard of well over 90% of them.
http://www.catholic.org/prayers/prayer.php?p=96
To St. Joseph for Protection
Gracious St. Joseph, protect me and my family from all evil as you did the Holy Family. Kindly keep us ever united in the love of Christ, ever fervent in imitation of the virtue of our Blessed Lady, your sinless spouse, and always faithful in devotion to you. Amen.
http://www.ourladyweb.com/mary-prayers.html
Prayer to St. Michael
Holy Michael, the Archangel, defend us in battle. Be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil. May God rebuke him, we humbly pray; and do you, O Prince of the heavenly host, by the power of God cast into hell Satan and all evil spirits who wander through the world seeking the ruin of souls.
Amen.
Prayer To Your Guardian Angel
Angel of God, my guardian dear, To whom God’s love commits me here, Ever this day, be at my side, To light and guard, Rule and guide.
Amen.
http://www.2heartsnetwork.org/Jude.htm
For Spiritual Help (to St. Jude)
Glorious apostle, martyr, and servant of Jesus, St. Jude Thaddeus, you spread the true faith among the most barbarous and distant nations, and won to the obedience of Jesus Christ many tribes and peoples by the power of His Holy Word. Grant, I beg you, that from this day I may renounce every sinful habit, that I may be preserved from all evil thoughts, that I may always obtain your assistance, particularly in danger and difficulty, and that I may reach the heavenly country, with you to adore the Most Holy Trinity, the Father, Son, and Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.
http://www.catholicity.com/prayer/prayers.html
To Mary
Memorare
Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary,
that never was it known
that any one who fled to thy protection,
implored thy help
or sought thy intercession,
was left unaided.
Inspired by this confidence,
We fly unto thee, O Virgin of virgins my Mother;
to thee do we come, before thee we stand, sinful and sorrowful;
O Mother of the Word Incarnate,
despise not our petitions,
but in thy mercy hear and answer them. Amen.
You will note that in ALL of these prayers we are asking for their intercession, the prayer is not to them alone (unless you believe that God IS NOT omniscient).
As for the Blessed Mother, recall that His first miracle was at HER request. When she was entrusted to Saint John on the Cross, she became the mother of the Church. Saint John represented the entirety of the Apostles at the Crucifixion. Some would like to pretend that of the seven “last Words” of Christ, this one was some sort of afterthough and that is absurd.
Keep in mind the prayers for the intercession of the saints has existed throughout Church history and is verifiable as such. Rejection of them is a 16th century invention of man. The fact that something is not explicitely spelled-out in the Bible does not mean it’s forbidden. As far as rejection of the Blessed Mother, even the great Reformers retained their traditional beliefs about her. As best I can tell, anti-Marian rhetoric began sometime in the 19th century when anti-Catholics realized that mainstream Protestants didn’t really hate Catholics like the used to.
As we have seen from just brief portions of Ferraro’s manual for MEDITATIONS ON THE ROSARY . . .
This whole straw dog about
Roman Catholics et al
ONLY pray “TO” saints, asking the merely to pray for them . . .
they purportedly don’t ASK THE SAINTS TO DO, provide, make things happen for the living on this side . . . .
that whole straw dog is a pile of deceiving brazen falsehoods.
Maybe they deceive themselves. Certainly they are listening to The Deceiver to persist in such UNBIBLICAL heresies and blasphemies.