WHOA!!
I thought 'saints' are in Heaven already??
But making images of these entities prayed to, such as "saints" and/or "Mary", since they are as one with Christ (I do hope they are or will be, that would be wonderful) still is not praying to anyone but God (or so the best of the 'story' for the practices go) because they are at one with Him in communion (again, as best modern-day 'explanation' goes) leaving things to be, that when facing towards images or icon depicting particular persons believed to now be in heaven, naming those particular entities while addressing prayer towards them even by name, is still not making an image of anything that is in heaven (even while it is hoped or believed that those are in heaven) and bowing down to worship those earthly images while prayers are said to them (for they are only being asked to "pray for us", sometimes...when not beseeched for more direct assitance) while they yet be otherwise also said to be one with God --- so regardless, our God is bigger than yours and we can by our own "faith" contradict in practice, admonitions given the Hebrews by God *quite directly* against similar in appearance practices common enough among pagan and 'ancestor' worship cults all over the world, found in the most primitive of cultures, because "our" (or should I say The?) Church ecclesiastical body which we bow obeisance towards as central component to our "faith" (we even recite creed that we "believe in" it along with believing in God) not only tell us that it OK to do as we do, but often enough highly recommend that we do so.
Or in other words; "We ain't breakin' no commandments -- we just be 'veneratin' "
That would be referring to the resurrection, while presently being absent from the body, and present with the Lord, which all the verses which clearly speak of a N.T. believer's postmortem or post 2nd advent condition support. (Luke 23:43; Acts 7:59; 1Cor. 15:52; 2 Cor 5:8; Phil. 1:23; 1 Th 4:17; 1Jn. 3:2) showing it is with the Lord, in whose presence there is fulness of joy (Ps. 16:11)
I think your argument in essence is that even though bowing down and beseeching someone in Heaven other than than the Lord, and represented by a graven image, is not seen sanctioned in Scripture, and which type of thing is only condemned, and not explained as being hyperdulia, yet Catholics hold this latter adopted practice as a common one in the early church. As it defines what history is and means.
Well, this is a bit semantical. Of course when I pray to Mary or to any other saint I pray to that particular saint, -- for his/her intercession, or advice, etc. However, by doing so I venerate God, "For it is God who worketh in [them], both to will and to accomplish, according to his good will" (Phil. 2:13).
You lost me somewhere after this as your sentence ran on and on. Do you have a question?