However, earliest Christianity has always defined prayer as
conversation, as in conversation with God. Conversation, as
any other act of communication ( e.g., talking,
conversation,
yelling, etc.), requires a sign of the direction of the
communication: one talks to someone, communicates with
someone, prays to
someone, converses with someone, yells at
someone, etc. Hence, praying to
God, a Saint, the Virgin Mary
indicates simply the direction
of prayer communication. It is more
a matter of grammar
and understanding communication than
acknowledging the worship of the
receiver.
From the earliest of Church Councils (the Council of
Rome, 993,
defined by the Council of Trent) the distinction was made
between worship and honor.
Catholics believe that worship is due to God alone.
Catholics
honor those saints who have gone before us as a sign
of faith
and victory in living the Christian life.