Catholics help me understand something about you?

Do you direct ALL your prayers of wanting forgiveness to either Mary asking her to pray for you or to your priest? Do you pray directly to God Himself, like ever? Why do you feel like you have to have a mediator to God? What kind of authority do you feel that Mary has? Lastly why do you not think that Mary is dead waiting for Jesus to come and take her to heaven in a sleep? Is there a Bible verse saying she is in heaven?