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You must be careful when using words especially to understand Catholicism and Protestantism as they often use the same words, but mean radically different things.
For instance when a Protestant says that he is saved, he is talking about - to a Catholic - are actually three different things, when a Protestant says he is saved he is referring to what a Catholic would say were 1) redemption, 2) justification, and 3) salvation. Those three words mean something different to a Protestant.
Similarly, when a Protestant asks if you pray to saints, probably what he is really asking is if we adore saints. In Protestantism to pray often carries the connotation of worshiping or adoring God. The later - adoration of God - is known in Catholic theology as latria in Latin. In English a Catholic would use the word adoration. The veneration due to the saints in Latin is known as dulia. Dulia and Latria are very different animals. Latria is due to God alone, Dulia is the "worship" (if you will-as the English use the word NOT American Protestants) or the veneration that is due to saints and angels as friends of God.
When it comes to praying to the saints, there is no difference between asking your good friend to pray for something you need than from asking your good friend in heaven - a saint - to pray to God for you, just as you would ask your friend on earth.
If when you ask why Catholics pray to saints and not Jesus you mean why do they worship saints and not Jesus you really need to learn the words involved from a Catholic who knows what they are talking about, and realize that your question is meaningless as Catholics do not "not worship Jesus" and they do not "adore the saints".
What else can I help you with?
Do Catholics pray to statues?
No, Catholics do not pray to statues. Catholics pray to God, Jesus, and ask Saints to pray for them.
Who can a Catholic pray to besides the God?
Catholics pray to Mother Mary, St. Joseph - the father of Jesus Christ and they can pray to all saints. There are patron saints for almost each and everything. So in times of difficulty when you pray to these saints, these saints in-turn pray to God on your behalf and the petitions are answered soon.
What religions pray to saints?
The Catholics pray to Saints. They believe they are in heaven with God and pray on our behalf as well.
Can Catholics ask dead people to pray for them or do they have to be saints?
Catholic do not pray to 'dead people' unless they are saints.
Why do you honor saints in heaven?
Yes catholics honor and believe in saints. They pray to saints, build churches in their honor. Catholics believe that saints in heaven pray on their behalf to GOD.
Why do you pray to saints?
Catholics pray to saints to intercede on their behalf with God. The Reformation leader, Martin Luther, considered this akin to polytheism and therefore banned this practice from his churches, so Protestants do not pray to saints.
Are Catholics required to pray to saints?
Catholics are not required to pray to saints, but it is a common practice in Catholic tradition to seek the intercession of saints for their prayers. This is based on the belief that the saints can intercede on behalf of individuals before God. Ultimately, prayer in the Catholic faith is directed to God, but saints can serve as intercessors.
Do Catholics believe that they may pray to God or Jesus without going through the pope for prayer and forgiveness?
Catholics have never had to seek the permission of the pope to pray to God the Father, Son or Holy Spirit. Nor do they need permission from the pope to pray to the saints for intercession.
How does the church answer the criticism that Catholics pray to saints?
Catholics don't pray to saints they pray with saints to god with their prayers helping us. We also pray with Mary to pray for us. hence we don't say 'St.Andrew i pray to you' we say 'St.Andrew pray for us'
Why do some Catholics ask the saints for help?
Saints are believed to be divinely connected with God, like a direct line. So we pray to them to ask them to ask God to help us, or pray to God for us, we believe God can do some miracles, through the saints. For a Catholic, the Saints are very much alive and in heaven, and just as you would ask a friend to pray for you, you can ask the saints to pray for you as well. Catholics use the word "pray" in the traditional sense of the word, whereas most protestants use "pray" to be the same thing as worship. Catholics do NOT worship saints.
How do catholics pray and how often?
We Pray The Prayers Jesus Taught Us. And We Pray As Often As We Want. And they pray twice when they sing!
Why do Catholics pray to saints when Jesus said the only way to the Father is through Him it never mentions in the Bible to pray to saints?
In reality, we do not so much as pray 'to' the saints as 'through' the saints. We ask them to join us in our prayers to God for a special intention. It is no different than asking a friend to pray for you or your intentions. The saints are part of the Mystical Body of Christ, as we also are if we are in God's favor. Another term is the Communion of Saints. We are one big family divided only by our current state of existence.
