at least 3 centuries before the first Catholic ever appeared, the
Apostle Paul was addressing the elect of God, chosen by grace and not
works, by one of the many titles God gives to elect ones.

one such address is that of " saint. " a saint is someone elect of
God in Christ; a chosen one for whom Christ died; who is indwelt by
His Holy Spirit and shows the fruits of the Spirit... by which he or
she is distinguished from all those lusting after idols and loving the
things of the flesh and of this world.

the before conversion daily life of those not called saints, but
rather, those addressed by God with such titles as " swine; dogs;
unfaithful; of your father the devil " and the like, are of a
completely different nature from that of a " saint. "

the actions of these fill the pages of the Bible with all kinds of
violence and judgements coming down on them from of God.

one such reason these judgements come upon them is for the terrible
sin of idol worship. the very first of the 10 Commandments handed
down to Moses addresses idol worship.

there is no such thing in the life of a saint of God calling upon an
image of anything on earth, nor in the sea, nor in heaven, and praying
to it; asking it for selfish favors, supposing the dumb plaster idol
hears or sees or is even listening... all such foolishness exposes a
heart dedicated to the evil one.

yet, there are those who suppose these things are a real part of
Christianity. so they've selected, out of their own, people who they
say are worthy of the title of " saint., " and worship them.

a saint in the Bible sense of the word, is someone ' set apart by
God for service unto Him... to glorify the Lord's Christ by obedience
unto Him... doing the good works which God beforehand prepared to be
done '

so here we have a regenerate believer, indwelt by the Spirit of
Christ, worshipping dead people and plaster images of such; lighting
candles unto such; praying to such; trying to invoke such for selfish
favors... not in the Bible sense of the word is this a " saint, " but
in pagan idolatry calling itself Christian.

a real Christian studies his Bible to show himself approved unto
God. he is convicted by the Holy Spirit of sin and turns from it.
he does not worship Mary or people or plaster idols, for the Bible he
studies and is illuminated unto him by the Holy Spirit says not to.

this is some of what a saint really is... and what a saint isn't.

the Lord Jesus put it bluntly... " Why do you not understand what I
am saying? It is because you cannot hear My word. You are of your
father the devil, and you want to do the desires of your father. "
( Joh. 8:43,44 ) one of the devils desires is for pagans to worship
him through idols, and this they gladly do being of the devils same
nature, as these words of Jesus declare.