hello tc-
i suppose it depends on your view of catholicism.
do you think that the only way to god is via jesus?
do you believe that mary is the mother of god?
do you pledge allegience to the catholic church?
during tha catholic mass, there are vows taken to the church, via the apostle's creed. there is also praying to jesus, mary to intervene on behalf of you, the sinner.
if i may speak personally, i follow jesus' advice to pray to god the father, as taught in the lord's prayer. i do not recall him ever saying to pray to mary, nor did he define her as the mother of god.
i no longer do things out of obligation.
i feel that participating in such rituals non-whole-heartedly is a lie.
i try to live my life in Truth.
i leave others to live their truth, without imposing mine on them.
so, to me, it depends on what you believe.