Replies

One of the problems that I have with that view is that it is NOT how Jesus taught us to pray. We are not taught to talk/pray whatever to other spirits or dead people. We are not taught to ask Moses or the prophets, we are not taught to ask the Apostles or the martyrs

WE ARE NOT EVEN TAUGHT TO PRAY TO JESUS. We are taught to pray to God. You know, the “Our father who is in heaven...” thing.

To support my position, I offer the following:
#

John 14:13 – And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son.
#

John 14:14 – If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.
#

John 15:16 – Ye have not chosen me, but I have chosen you, and ordained you, that ye should go and bring forth fruit, and that your fruit should remain: that whatsoever ye shall ask of the Father in my name, he may give it you.
#

John 16:23 – And in that day ye shall ask me nothing. Verily, verily, I say unto you, Whatsoever ye shall ask the Father in my name, he will give it you.
#

John 16:24 – Hitherto have ye asked nothing in my name: ask, and ye shall receive, that your joy may be full.

You will note a pattern here. Jesus INSTRUCTS us to pray to God and God will then provide.

As to the concept that you are only asking for Mary's assistance, you need to study the Catholic Catechisms, to wit:

“Beginning with Mans unique cooperation with the working of the Holy- Spirit, the Churches developed their prayer to the holy Mother of God” (Catechism 2675)

‘This twofold movement of prayer to Mary has found a privileged expression in the Ave Maria” (Catechism 2676)

“Mary is the perfect Orans prayer, a figure of the Church. When we pray to her, we are adhering with her to the plan of the Father” (Catechism 2679)