Why should we pray to the saints or to Mary?

[iaskquestions]

I have never understood the reason why people flock in such great numbers to attend novenas of different saints and of Mother Mary. What is the whole point of all these novenas? We can surely pray to Jesus directly, can’t we?

Also, the Bible says you should honour your father and your mother. Now Mary is the mother given to me by Christ. But I have rarely attended novenas. Does that mean that I have dishonoured Mary? What about Protestants? Are they guilty of dishonouring their mother?

 

[Reginald_Plum]

IAQ,

These links should be helpful for understanding praying to saints, including novenas and Protestants’ prayers to saints. If you have any further questions or concerns that are not answered by these links, please contact Catholic Answers directly.

Recommended Reading:
Novenas
Can Protestants ask a saint for prayers?

Why Mary?
Praying to/with Mary
When do I pray to our Lord and when to Mary and the saints?
Should I pray directly to Jesus?
What happens to us between death and judgment day?
May Christians pray only to God alone?