Regarding prayer to the saints---we Protestants aver. Why?

If we "believe in the holy catholic church, the communion of saints," (which we do), and if we can appeal to another human being for prayer on our behalf (which we also do), then why neglect so great a community of hallowed disciples as intercessors?

Unless we really don't believe or understand what we confess.

These to whom we appeal are not run-of-the-mill humans---they are saints, whose form of life is simple, humble, kind, holy--with whom God is in greater communion by virtue of their proven sanctity, their abandonment to God.

It's not sufficient to deny prayer to saints because it's "too Roman." We must think better than that. More biblically. More theologically. More mystically. We must not be taken captive by our "Protest" and our uncritical immersion in Enlightenment rationality.

And if we can appeal to the saints gone before us and bridge the thin barrier between worlds, what then of Mary, mother of our Lord? She is not divine, not confused with Christ, or a rival of the Trinity. But she is one whose virtue makes her particularly efficacious in her prayers and intercession and guidance. Further, is she one who, by the grace she begs from our Lord on our behalf, can give birth to a broader transformation of our lives, the formation of Christ in us?

Of course! Pray to the Holy Trinity with fervor. But don't neglect the grace that may come to you through the intercession of one of God's special ones, especially if they're special to you and you to them.