One of my catholic readers wrote to me and told me that catholics do not pray TO the Virgin Mary and that I could not prove that they do. Although a previous blog post covered this topic, I thought I would let you readers determine for yourself whether the catholics do or don’t pray TO Mary. These are but a few.

But thou, when thou prayest, enter into thy closet, and when thou hast shut thy door, pray to thy Father which is in secret; and thy Father which seeth in secret shall reward thee openly. ~Matthew 6:6

Thinkest thou that I cannot now pray to my Father, and he shall presently give me more than twelve legions of angels? ~Matthew 26:53

After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. ~Matthew 6:9

And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth. ~Luke 11:2

No where did Christ tell us to pray to anyone else but the Father. But yet the catholic prayers below leave no doubt to the reader that they pray TO Mary.

No one deserves our prayers, worship and admiration than God. No where did any of the people in the Bible pray to anyone other than to God Himself. Just in Psalms alone, David made it clear that he prayed right to the Source – he did not have to go through Abraham, Moses or any of the early fathers of the faith.

My voice shalt thou hear in the morning, O LORD; in the morning will I direct my prayer unto thee, and will look up. ~Psalm 5:3

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and give ear unto my cry; hold not thy peace at my tears: for I am a stranger with thee, and a sojourner, as all my fathers were. ~Psalm 39:12

O thou that hearest prayer, unto thee shall all flesh come. ~Psalm 65:2

But as for me, my prayer is unto thee, O LORD, in an acceptable time: O God, in the multitude of thy mercy hear me, in the truth of thy salvation. ~Psalm 69:13

Let my prayer come before thee: incline thine ear unto my cry; ~Psalm 88:2

But unto thee have I cried, O LORD; and in the morning shall my prayer prevent thee. ~Psalm 88:13

Hear my prayer, O LORD, and let my cry come unto thee. ~Psalm 102:1

But yet read a few of the prayers that catholics pray TO Mary. How can the catholic reader I spoke of say that they do not pray TO Mary?

THE HAIL MARY

Hail Mary full of Grace, the Lord is with Thee. Blessed are Thou amongst women and blessed is the fruit of Thy womb, Jesus. Holy Mary, Mother of God; pray for us sinners, now and at the hour of our death. Amen.

HAIL, HOLY QUEEN

Hail, Holy Queen, Mother of Mercy! our life, our sweetness and our hope! To thee do we cry, poor banished children of Eve; to thee do we send up our sighs, mourning and weeping in this valley of tears. Turn then, most gracious advocate, thine eyes of mercy toward us, and after this our exile, show unto us the blessed fruit of thy womb, Jesus. O clement, O loving, O sweet Virgin Mary!

My Queen, My Mother

My Queen, My Mother, I offer myself entirely to Thee. And to show my devotion to Thee, I offer Thee this day, my eyes, my ears, my mouth, my heart, my whole being without reserve. Wherefore, good Mother, as I am thine own, keep me, guard me as Thy property and possession. Amen

The Angelus

The angel of the Lord declared unto Mary. And she conceived of the Holy Ghost. Hail Mary, …
Behold the handmaid of the Lord. Be it done unto me according to Thy word. Hail Mary, …
And the Word was made Flesh. And dwelt among us. Hail Mary, …
Pray for us, O holy Mother of God. That we may be made worthy of the promises of Christ.

The Memorare

Remember, O most gracious Virgin Mary, that never was it known that anyone who fled to your protection, implored your help or sought your intercession, was left unaided. Inspired by this confidence, I fly unto you, O Virgin of virgins, my Mother. To you I come, before you I stand, sinful and sorrowful. O Mother of the Word incarnate, despise not my petitions, but, in your mercy, hear and answer me. Amen.

Regina Coeli (Caeli)
Queen of Heaven

O, queen of heaven, rejoice! Alleluia. For He whom thou didst merit to bear, Alleluia, Hath arisen as He said, Alleluia. Pray for us to God, Alleluia. Rejoice and be glad, O Virgin Mary. Alleluia. For the Lord hath risen indeed. Alleluia. Oremus

Prayer to the Virgin Mary for Assistance

O, most beautiful flower of Mount Carmel, Fruit of the Vine, splendorous of Heaven. Blessed Mother of the Son of God, Immaculate Virgin, assist me in this my necessity. O, Star of the Sea, help me and show herein you are my mother. O, Holy Mary, Mother of God, Queen of Heaven and earth, I humbly beseech you from the bottom of my heart to succour me in my necessity. There are none that can withstand your power, O, show me here you are my mother. O, Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to Thee. Sweet Mother, I place this cause in your hands. Amen.

Then Peter and the other apostles answered and said, We ought to obey God rather than men. ~Acts 5:29