Sinfulness of praying to a saint before praying to God

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Ok, I’ll throw myself on the mercy of the forum: the second part of my last post was a bit uncalled for. Rightly chastised.
Swing easy, everyone. We’re basically on the same side around here.
 
I don’t think it is sinful to pray for a saint’s intercession before praying to God or even to pray for a saint’s intercession instead of praying to God. Sometimes we are just too afraid to go directly to God but we shouldn’t be afraid to do so for He cares about us and loves us with an infinite love. Sometimes I ask the saint’s to pray for me instead of praying directly to God. But I don’t think it is sinful to do.
 
We do not pray to Mary or the Saints, we ask them to pray for us.
Actually, when we pray, we indeed pray TO them. Not only in petition, but in honor. For example “Hail! Mary, full of Grace”.
It’s no different than asking your best friend here on Earth to pray for you.
It is different, because the prayer of a perfect saint or especially that of God’s own Mother is unimaginably more powerful than that of we mortal beings. That is why we ask them to pray to God for us.
 
The Lord’s Prayer is not just a rote prayer, it is a guideline for HOW to pray as well. Jesus is teaching method as well as offering a prayer to use. This is from the Gospel according to Matthew, (chapter 6):

5 And when ye pray, you shall not be as the hypocrites, that love to stand and pray in the synagogues and corners of the streets, that they may be seen by men: Amen I say to you, they have received their reward.

6 But thou when thou shalt pray, enter into thy chamber, and having shut the door, pray to thy Father in secret: and thy Father who seeth in secret will repay thee. 7 And when you are praying, speak not much, as the heathens. For they think that in their much speaking they may be heard. 8 Be not you therefore like to them, for your Father knoweth what is needful for you, before you ask him. 9 Thus therefore shall you pray: Our Father who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name. 10 Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

11 Give us this day our supersubstantial bread. 12 And forgive us our debts, as we also forgive our debtors. 13 And lead us not into temptation. But deliver us from evil. Amen. 14 For if you will forgive men their offences, your heavenly Father will forgive you also your offences. 15 But if you will not forgive men, neither will your Father forgive you your offences.

There is no prohibition against praying to, or with, the saints. There is no reason for one since honor and respect, and asking for help, are not the same as worship; worship being reserved for only GOD. But since God so honored the Virgin, then it would be unwise for us to refuse to honor her. When we pray to Mary, saying, “Hail, full of grace!” we use the greeting of the messenger of GOD.
 
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