Isn't praying to the saints going to dead people instead of to Jesus?

🔥The question: “Why not pray straight to Jesus instead of asking the Blessed Virgin Mary or a saint?”

🛡️The Church's answer: Christ alone is the one Savior and mediator between God and human beings. The intercession of the saints is not another route that takes Christ's place; it is a share in the communion within the one Body of Christ, where we pray for one another. Catholics do not treat the saints as gods; we ask them, “Pray for us.”

🧐If they press further: “Is it all right to pray directly to Jesus?” — Of course. All Christian prayer goes to the Father through Christ in the Holy Spirit. Prayer that asks a saint's help is finally directed to God as well, and if it ever obscures Christ, it has to be corrected.

✨In one sentence: “Asking a saint to intercede isn't skipping past Jesus; it's asking the family of faith in Christ to pray along with you.”