A: Catholics pray to Mary, other Saints and the holy angels, because we do not believe prayer is worship. Catholics understand worship in the Biblical sense, which involves the presentation of an actual flesh and blood sacrifice. This, coupled with the act of adoration (full submission of the mind, body, soul and will) is how Catholics understand worship in its most pure and Biblical sense. The mere act of prayer is simply to offer requests, and does not in and of itself, constitute real Biblical worship.
Then Catholics don't understand what Biblical worship really is.
So, first off, thank you author for admitting that Catholics DO pray TO Mary and saints and angels.
Spiritual worship in Scripture......
Luke 2:36-37 And there was a prophetess, Anna, the daughter of Phanuel, of the tribe of Asher. She was advanced in years, having lived with her husband seven years from when she was a virgin, and then as a widow until she was eighty-four. She did not depart from the temple, worshiping with fasting and prayer night and day.
Romans 12:1 I appeal to you therefore, brothers, by the mercies of God, to present your bodies as a living sacrifice, holy and acceptable to God, which is your spiritual worship.
Philippians 4:18 I have received full payment, and more. I am well supplied, having received from Epaphroditus the gifts you sent, a fragrant offering, a sacrifice acceptable and pleasing to God.
Hebrews 13:16 Do not neglect to do good and to share what you have, for such sacrifices are pleasing to God.
Psalm 51:17 The sacrifices of God are a broken spirit; a broken and contrite heart, O God, you will not despise.
Hebrews 13:15 Through him then let us continually offer up a sacrifice of praise to God, that is, the fruit of lips that acknowledge his name.
Catholics say that people have to worship God through the sacrifice of the mass. And just like the Jews who claimed that God could only be worshiped in Jerusalem, they were wrong. God is looking for those to worship him in spirit and in truth.
John 4:19-24 The woman said to him, “Sir, I perceive that you are a prophet. Our fathers worshiped on this mountain, but you say that in Jerusalem is the place where people ought to worship.” Jesus said to her, “Woman, believe me, the hour is coming when neither on this mountain nor in Jerusalem will you worship the Father. You worship what you do not know; we worship what we know, for salvation is from the Jews. But the hour is coming, and is now here, when the true worshipers will worship the Father in spirit and truth, for the Father is seeking such people to worship him. God is spirit, and those who worship him must worship in spirit and truth.”
If Catholics do not worship Mary, why do so many of them have small shrines to Mary in front of their homes? Especially noticeable in predominantly Catholic small towns.
*SNERK*