While I no longer practice the Catholic faith, I can state in all truth that the center of Catholic devotion is Jesus Christ, not Mary, and no Catholic worships a created thing, although they do bow down to them, contrary to the Code of Moshe.
But they do worship created things called saints as men authorized by another man called a Pope (the officiator) in respect to what scripture refers to as as "disembodied workers with a familiar spirits" Called by some "patron saints" (no difference)
Using a image idol or a relic called a teraphim, a medallion used to put a face on the
many(legion)of spirits that do come when one inquiring of
one. It is why when Christ asked the name of one of those kinds of spirits, he responded; "My name is legion for we are many". The true saints that leave here are asleep, all of them .
True saints are not identified by a man who puts his seal on them making them a official saints as if a man could be in the place of a Holy Spirit.. God who alone knows the hearts of all men sets those (Christians) aside as Holy for His purposes..
Catholicism boasts of 3,500 and rising.
A good example of seeking (necromancy) after those who are no longer here, called patron saint by some todayis shown below
Genesis 31:19 And Laban went to shear his sheep: and Rachel had stolen the images (plural)
that were her father's.
Strong's lexicon
08655 t@raphiym {ter-aw-feme'}
pl. from 07495; TWOT - 2545; n m
AV - image 7, teraphim 6, idol 1, idolatry 1; 151) idolatry, idols, image(s), teraphim, family idol 1a) a kind of idol used in household shrine or worship
But in regard to Catholicism and the scriptures , as in all things written in the law and the prophets.It is simply of no authority to them, making it to no effect seeing the pew non-venerable Catholic must measure their faith by the fathers the venerable ones and not sola scriptura, as it is written........ God's words loosened from heaven..
I believe we can see and example of "sola scriptura" performing its work of faith in the heart of Josiah, moving Josiah to both will and do the good pleasure of God as an imputed righteousness.As Philippians informs us, we it out as it works in us , not work for it which the Catholic must according to the "law of the fathers" as oral traditions of men, commandments of men.
2Ki 23:24 Moreover the "workers with familiar spirits", and the wizards, and the images, and the idols, and all the "abominations" that were spied in the land of Judah and in Jerusalem, did Josiah put away, that he "might perform the words of the law which were written in the book" that Hilkiah the priest found in the house of the LORD.
So worship a form of venerating.It is reserved for one entity that has no form , and therefore one manner. Our Father in heaven who has no form, The Catholic fathers would have those believe to venerate is not to worship.Changing the origin meaning of many words in that way or adding new meaning..
Matthew 6:9 After this manner therefore pray ye: Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name.
Strong's lexicon
37
from 40; TDNT - 1:111,14; v AV - sanctify 26, hallow 2, be holy 1; 29
1) to render or acknowledge, or to be venerable or hallow 2) to separate from profane things and dedicate to God 2a) consecrate things to God 2b) dedicate people to God 3) to purify 3a) to cleanse externally 3b) to purify by expiation: free from the guilt of sin 3c) to purify internally by renewing of the soul
