A saying that is well known among Catholics is , To Jesus through Mary. This does not mean, To Mary, through Jesus nor does mean, To Jesus and to Mary. This saying affirms that Catholics do not pray"to" Mary as an equal to God. They pray "through" Mary as an intercessor who prays to God on behalf of mankind. If Catholics were to pray to Mary , this would imply that they are worshiping her as a god. But Catholics do not perceive Mary as a god. (1) they view Mary as the holiest of all the saints. (2) they accept the face that Mary is the most successful saint at obtaining Divine favours through her intercession. Biblical support for the belief of Catholics to call upon Mary to intercede to God on their belief: first of all, because Mary was the birth mother of the humanity of Jesus in who "the fullness of the deity (God) was pleased to dwell bodily" ( col. 1:19, 2:9) Catholics recognize the virgin Mary as the mother of God.
Secondly, because Mary was "favored by God" ( Lk 1:38) when she was personally chosen by the Lord to become the mother of Jesus, God incarnated , Catholics believe that they have a greater chance of obtaining God's grace for their daily physical and spiritual needs by asking Mary to intercede on their Belief.
The immaculate conception. God prepared Mary before hand to become the mother of the saviour. He did this by enriching her with gifts that are appropriate to such roles. ( cf. Lumen Gentium 56) and that was attested by the greeting of angel Gabriel at the moment of the Annunciation who salutes her as "full of grace" ( Lk 1:28)
