Veneration of Saints

[JustaServant]

The way I see it, even if Mary were unaware of my prayers, her Son knows I’m calling. When I receive the Eucharist, I mentally wave at my departed loved ones knowing they are part of this great Communion through Christ.

They are alive, not dead so I pretty much figure they are awake, aware and still interested in God’s work on earth.

As a Lutheran, this is my personal piety and devotional practices - neither commanded nor outright forbidden.

This was exactly my thoughts even as a Baptist.
I remember in one very old Baptist church years ago I saw a plaque with names of former members. I remember someone saying, to the effect, “these are our former members, now they are dead”…
And I thought, their church membership ceases just because they died?
It never made sense to me.