MARY, THE SAINTS, THE ANGELS, THE DEMONS
Why do we pray to the saints?
How did this practice of praying to the Saints ever start?
Why not pray simply to God?
You are free to address yourself directly to God.
However, the Church has always encouraged prayer to the saints, particularly devotion to Mary, Mother of God. Are they not God's friends who have given us the example of a fervent evangelistic life? This does not take anything away from our faith in Jesus, our only Mediator and Savior.
In the early years of the Church, Christians venerated the martyrs and virgins, the disciples of Christ who inspired the entire Church.
They asked their intercession, as we do when we beg a close friend of a king, president or minister, to plead our case.
We are God's children and we form a family, the "communion of saints". We can help each other and pray for one another.
This is normal, reasonable and legitimate.
In the United States and in Canada, we have official protectors and models among the many saints who have sanctified our countries: Saint John of Brébeuf, Saint Isaac Jogues and their companions, Saint Frances Cabrini, Saint John Neumann, Saint Marguerite Bourgeoys, Saint Marguerite d'Youville, Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton, Blessed Junipero Serra, Blessed Kateri Tekakwitha, Blessed François de Laval, Blessed Mary of the Incarnation, Blessed Catherine of Saint-Augustin, Blessed Louis Zephirin Moreau, Blessed Marie-Léonie Paradis, Blessed Marie-Rose Durocher, Blessed Frederic Jansoone, Blessed Brother André, Blessed Dina Belanger, Venerable Alfred Pampalon, etc., etc.
As Cardinal Godfried Danneëls wrote, why not give to a newborn child, instead of the name of a famous star, the name of a saint, a "family" name?