[metmom]

Where’s the teaching in the Bible that Mary was born without sin?

Or that she remained a virgin her entire life?

Or that she was assumed and did not see death?

Or that we are to pray to her for anything?

Or that people are to be canonized as saints and prayed to?

Where are the instructions to the church in selecting Peter’s successors?

[awin]

Can you tell me just how the early Christians practiced their faith PRIOR to the writing of the Bible around 100 AD? It was, of course, by word of mouth based on traditions of Christ because there was NO official writings/Bible. See Sola Scripture can't be ALL because what then did the early Christians do while waiting for a bible to be written? They practiced their faith by sacred tradition!
One needs to read the early church leaders writings from circa 30 AD till the bible writings were placed in one book..the bible.

[annalex]

The Christian doctrines do not come from the Holy Scripture. The Scripture comes from the Church, but so do beliefs and practices not specifically included in the canonized text. Naturally, the teachings of the Church are in full accordance with the scripture -- something the Protestants claim for themselves without scriptural evidence, -- but they are not necessarily contained and spelled out in the scripture.

It is illogical to expect the Scripture to reflect on the lives of saints that are chronologically outside of the scope of the Gospel. The veneration of saints is something that the Church in her God-given power to bind ind loose (Matthew 16:19, 18:18) proposes for our salvation.

We know, however, some aspects of what you ask from the scripture:

Mary was born without sin

That is easy; archangel Gabriel describes her as "full of grace"; that means, there was no room for sin in her. Grace displaces sin.

she remained a virgin her entire life

That is not spoken about in the scripture, but given that her maternal function was fulfilled miraculously and without a marital act (Matthew 1:25) there would be no reason for her to seek carnal union with Joseph. Nor would Joseph be so impious as to desecrate the Tabernacle of the Living Word that her holy womb is. Note, too, that she did not intend to be with Joseph anyway (Luke 1:34).

she was assumed and did not see death

The dogma of Assumption does not say anything about her tasting death. You are free to believe that she did experience death. That she was assumed into heaven in the body can be inferred from Rev. 12. Remember, as well, that all the elect will be assumed and their bodies restored in the fullness of time (Matthew 24:31, 1 Cor. 15:52). Where Mary went, we shall follow.

we are to pray to her for anything

This can be inferred from the Miracle at Cana, where Mary intereceded for the headwaiter (John 2:2). Intercession on behalf of others is a common theme of the Gospel; see, for example, several acts of healing solicited not by the sick person but someone else.

people are to be canonized as saints and prayed to

We pray to saints because we want to pray to God in their company, and praise God for giving them holiness. The earliest, somewhat theologically unsound instance of veneration of Mary is recorded in Luke 11:27-28. Note that Jesus corrects the proper subjects of veneratin being holiness rather than Mary's motherhood per se, and that He explains that all the holy men are to be likewise venerated, and not just Mary alone.

Regarding canonization of saints, see for example, John 17:17, Ephesians 5:26, 1 Thessalonians 5:23, Hebrews 12:1. The very act of canonization is a necessity since often claims of miracles are made without proper substantiation; the Church does it most specifically as the keeper of the Keys to the Heavenly Kingdom (Matthew 16:19).

Where are the instructions to the church in selecting Peter’s successors

There are none, and indeed the procedure changed over time a bit. There is no doubt though that the papacy of Peter was to be perpetuated (2 Peter 1:14-15).

Thank you very much for your interest. Feel free to follow up.