I’m very glad you've been studying the Catechism of the Catholic Church - you will learn more about God’s truth from it than you ever will from just reading the Bible.
Thanks to Jesus being My Good shepherd, I'd take the Bible over the Catholic Catechism.
There is nothing at all wrong with praying to Mary, in fact the Catholic Church highly recommends it, so that is what I do, since what the Church teaches is the infallible word of God. Mary herself doesn’t answer prayers - only God can answer prayers, but Mary intercedes for us.
That is not what I am reading about that practice.
Prayers are only offered to gods even in the eyes of the secular world. So to abstain from all appearances of evil in the sight of God and men, Catholics need to repent of that if they truly wish to honor the Son as that only Mediator.
Addressing her as an advocate is not wise and dishonoring the Son when there is only One Mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
And giving her the title as the Queen as in the Queen of Heaven when that reference in the O.T. was an offense to the Lord, I do not understand how Catholics cannot see Mary be offended by addressing her as that. A little leaven leavens a whole lump.
Best to return to your first love, the Lord Jesus Christ aka the Bridegroom in coming to God the Father for anything.
If you limit yourself to merely your interpretation of Scripture, you are like a plant that doesn’t get enough sunshine to grow to its full potential. It is only through the Catholic Church that you can get your full share of God’s sunshine.
Why is it the simplicity of the gospel has ceased in the light of the Catholic Church? Can't be that great a sunshine when the light of the gospel cannot be seen. Where is the joy of your salvation? Best to leave the Catholic Church and return to your first love, the Lord Jesus Christ, the Bridegroom.
The Church is the “fullness” of Christ (Eph 1:22), therefore the Church shares Christ’s role as mediator. This is especially so in the case of Mary, who is the Mother of God, and therefore the Mother of the Church.If Mary has any power, it comes entirely from Christ. Mary intercedes for us, regardless of what your interpretation of Scripture tells you. The Catholic Church is the “pillar and foundation of the truth” (1Tim 3:15), not you.
1 Timothy 2:5 For there is one God, and one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus;
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.... 13 And whatsoever ye shall ask in my name, that will I do, that the Father may be glorified in the Son. 14 If ye shall ask any thing in my name, I will do it.