You have written a heartfelt comment. That said.When we say Jesus thru Mary is only about that He was born of the Virgin Mary. She has a special place in history. Human thru Mary. Not to mean only thru her to go to Jesus. We are all connected thru the Holy Spirit as Believers. The pray starts in Christ. The caution can turn into paranoia when we do not understand.-”If they are aware of what is going on, and can interact with our thoughts, just as angels can, and have love, then it is perfectly reasonable to suppose that we can ask for their intercession.
Think, for example, of the Transfiguration. Moses and Elijah appeared and talked to Jesus. Theoretically, they could have been asked by the disciples to pray for them or for some cause. That would have been an example of our asking “dead” people to pray. Nothing in the Bible would prevent them from saying “yes.”
Many Protestants do not grasp the communion of saints, and for some reason feel compelled to collapse every such instance into the “occult” or necromancy or having a seance: “contacting” the dead. The two things are completely different (see my explanation as to why that is).
I should clarify, too, that when we ask Mary to “help” us, we mean by her power of intercession. She can’t grant us things in and of herself, but only by virtue of the graces given to her by God. She is God’s instrument or agent, just as any creature is, but in her exalted position as the Mother of God, she is the best possible creature we can ask to pray for us. Many have greatly misunderstood the flowery language of Marian devotion: as if Mary herself were the source of the blessings and graces received. Not true. God is that, and this is Catholic teaching.” By Dave Armstrong
http://socrates58.blogspot.com/2008/04/why-do-catholics-pray-to-mary.html
good post - thank you.