Because the Catholic belief is that those who have died still love us on earth, still care about us, and are allowed by God to exercise that charity.
I’m not aware that any Christians deny that those on earth can pray for each other. Why is this NOT in conflict with the belief that only Jesus intercedes for us with the Father, while asking those who are in heaven to do the same thing, IS?
Aside from that question, there are, quite simply, countless occasions when the love and care of the blessed in Heaven has been made known.
My aunt Eileen died in 2010. A couple of months after her death, an old beau, and lifelong friend, Johnny C., aged 92, slipped and fell on ice behind his house, taking out the trash. He was unable to get up.
At that moment, he saw Eileen. She said, “Someone will help you.”
His wife, a woman with Alzheimer’s so advanced that she know longer knew who he was, saw him on the ice from the kitchen door. She went to the telephone, dialed 911, and got help.
I thank you for the example of prayer for one another, which is clearly encouraged by Scripture, and is powerful.
What we Protestants have difficulty with is prayer to those Saints who have clearly deceased.
1 Thessalonians 4:13 But I would not have you to be ignorant, brethren, concerning them which are asleep, that ye sorrow not, even as others which have no hope.
14 For if we believe that Jesus died and rose again, even so them also which sleep in Jesus will God bring with him.
15 For this we say unto you by the word of the Lord, that we which are alive and remain unto the coming of the Lord shall not prevent them which are asleep.
Are some saints asleep and others awake?
If so, from where does that derive in Scripture?
I’m not your enemy, I’m your brother.