Catholic Catechism
"2132 The Christian veneration of images is not contrary to the first commandment which proscribes idols. Indeed, “the honor rendered to an image passes to its prototype,” and “whoever venerates an image venerates the person portrayed in it.”[70] The honor paid to sacred images is a “respectful veneration,” not the adoration due to God alone: "
First of all, not bowing to a graven image is the 2nd command, not the first.The 10th commandment into two to make up for the missing 2nd commandment. Why are there two commandments telling us not to covet? Seems kind of strange don’t you think? You can’t just eradicate the 2nd commandment!
God clearly warns us in Exodus 20:4-5 NOT to make unto ourselves ANY graven images. The brazen serpent was God’s idea, not Moses. God never told us ANYWHERE in the Word of God to make a statue of anyone or anything. The Israelites were instructed to “look” to the serpent (which pictured Christ) and live. The people were NOT instructed to bow, honor, or pray to a statue.it’s a direct violation of the 2nd Commandment
“Thou shalt not make unto thee any graven image, or any likeness of any thing that is in heaven above, or that is in the earth beneath, or that is in the water under the earth: Thou shalt not bow down thyself to them, nor serve them: for I the LORD thy God am a jealous God…” -Exodus 20:4,5
John 14:6, “Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.”
“Wherefore God also hath highly exalted him, and given him a name which is above every name: That at the name of Jesus every knee should bow, of things in heaven, and things in earth, and things under the earth” -Philippians 2:9,10
“Neither is there salvation in any other: for there is none other name under heaven given among men, whereby we must be saved.” -Acts 4:12
Mark 7:13…
“Making the word of God of none effect through your tradition…”
For there is one God, and ONE MEDIATOR between God and men, the man Christ Jesus.
1 Timothy 2:5
Paul VI, Christi Matri. “The Church … been accustomed to have recourse to that most ready intercessor, her Mother Mary … For as St. Irenaeus says, she 'has become the cause of salvation for the whole human race”
John Paul II, Mother of the Redeemer, 1987.
Pius IX, Ubi Primum, 1849: “For God has committed to Mary the treasury of all good things, in order that everyone may know that THROUGH HER are obtained every hope, every grace, and ALL SALVATION. For this is his will, that we obtain everything through Mary.”
Leo XIII, Supremi Apostolatus, 1883: “O Mary, the guardian of our peace and the dispensatrix of heavenly graces.”
Plus X, Ad Diem Illum, 1904: “It was granted to the august Virgin to be together with her Only-begotten Son the most powerful Mediatrix and Conciliatrix of the whole world. So Christ is the source . . . Mary, however, as St. Bernard justly remarks, is the channel, or she is the neck by which the Body is united to the Head… through which ALL spiritual gifts are communicated to his Body.”
Benedict XV, In a decree on Joan of Are: “In every miracle we must recognize the mediation of Mary, through whom, according to God’s will, every grace and blessing comes to us.”
Plus XI, Miserentissimus Redemptor, 1928: "Confiding in her intercession with Jesus, “the one Mediator of God and man, who wished to associate his own Mother with himself as the advocate of sinners, as the dispenser and mediatrix of grace.”
Plus XII, Superiore Anno, 1940: “As St. Bernard declares, 'it is the will of God that we obtain favors through Mary, let everyone hasten to have recourse to Mary.”
Scripture is clear that the Lord alone is our redeemer. To Israel God proclaimed, “I, the Lord, am your Savior, and your Redeemer, the Mighty One of Jacob” (Isaiah 49:26). The New Testament Scriptures reveal that it is in God’s “beloved Son, in whom we have redemption, the forgiveness of sins” (Colossians 1:13-14). God justifies sinners “through the redemption which is in Christ Jesus” (Romans 3:24).
