[Iscool]

One of the meanings of ‘to pray’ is ‘to request’, requesting that someone petition God for/with you is quite normative for Christians.

No it isn't...You're being dishonest...

[Toad of Toad Hall]

In what sense is that statement dishonest?

From Dictionary.com: to utter prayers (to God or other object of worship): we prayed to God for the sick child. 2. (when transitive, usually takes a clause as object or an infinitive) to make an earnest entreaty (to or for); beg or implore: she prayed to be allowed to go, leave, I pray you.

In Catholicism, when praying to saints, the word prayer is meant in the sense of an “earnest entreaty”.

According to Catholic teaching, saints are *prayed to*, but not *worshipped*. For example, I pray to Saint Anthony to ask him to pray for me. And I pray to Saint Michael, asking his protection. I do not worship them in prayer as I worship the members of the Trinity.

Perhaps there is confusion about “praying” or “worshipping” in this discussion. But I think characterizing any of the comments made thus far as “dishonest” is, in itself, disingenuous.

[ebb tide]

In virtue of the solidarity of the Church, that is, of the close relations of the faithful as members of the mystical Body of Christ, any one may benefit by the good deeds, and especially by the prayers of the others as if participating in them. This is the ground of St. Paul's desire that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men (Timothy 2:1), for all, without exception, in high or low station, for the just, for sinners, for infidels; for the dead as well as for the living; for enemies as well as for friends.

Catholic Encyclopedia

[pbear8]

Merriam Webster - To pray - 1
: entreat, implore —often used as a function word in introducing a question, request, or plea “pray be careful”