RE: Church Tradition — Catholics and Protestants see Mary and other Saints differently.
Here’s a question — is it MANDATORY for Catholics to pray to Mary and the Saints? Or is it optional?
Good question. As long as we’re clear that when you say “pray to” it means “pray with” (that is, honor, not worship), I’d say the answer is “optional”, but highly encouraged.
(Please, no one reply that Catholics actually “worship” the dead, because it’s a hopeless semantic battle.)
The Eucharist being real body and blood of Christ - not optional.