Apparently the Catholic Church prayed to GOD through JESUS CHRIST before Pope Leo XIII.
According to Wikipedia Pope Leo XIII (author of the prayer to St. Michael the Archangel) was known for:
1) intellectualism,
2)the development of social teachings with his encyclical Rerum Novarum (”Rights and Duties of Capital and Labor”)
3)attempts to define the position of the Church with regard to modern thinking.
4) first Pope to fully embrace the concept of Mary as mediatrix. (mediator)
It appears Pope Leo XIII could be called the “Progressive Pope.” Also, where in the Bible are angels called Saints?
Your problem lies in the definition of the word pray. It is a beseeching. Only in the modern sense have people lost that it was not always to God alone. The word has more than one meaning. I believe people of your ilk really are not understanding it?
transitive verb
1 : entreat, implore —often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea 2
: to get or bring by praying intransitive verb
1 : to make a request in a humble manner
2 : to address God or a god with adoration, confession, supplication, or thanksgiving
See pray defined for English-language learners » See pray defined for kids » Examples of PRAY
There's little else to do now but hope and pray. The minister said, “Let us pray.” He prayed that they would have the strength to go on. He prayed that he would find a parking spot. Origin of PRAY Middle English, from Anglo-French prier, praer, preier, from Latin precari, from prec-, prex request, prayer; akin to Old High German frāga question, frāgēn to ask, Sanskrit pṛcchati he asks First Known Use: 13th century
You know what the word "saint" is? It's an English word that came from French "saint" = "holy", which itself came from Latin "sanctus" = "holy". Are the angels not holy?
Also, this business about Leo XIII being the "progressive Pope"....would this be the same Pope Leo XIII who wrote a blistering condemnation of socialism?