[irishtenor]

***if God knows, well that is irrelevant. ***

No, that is vitally relevant. God knows from the beginning whom he will choose. It is all part of his plan. Even Satan is part of his plan. We don't have a choice in the matter. None at all.

***Can we ask the dead to ask the Father in Heaven to pray for us? Sure we can. They are aware of us on Earth, and able to bring additional Prayers to God.***

Prove that they are aware of us and our needs using scripture. In fact, show me one instance where any one of the Apostles prayed to anyone or anything except God. Just one.

And what about ex-saint Christopher? Are his prayers still valid? Does he wield the same influence now that he has been de-sainted?

[Dominick]

No, that is vitally relevant. God knows from the beginning whom he will choose. It is all part of his plan. Even Satan is part of his plan. We don't have a choice in the matter. None at all.

Perhaps we do or we don't. It is as irrelevant as how many Angels dance on the head of a pin. You will never know. God will never tell you, and even if you thought you knew, you could not know this with certainty. It is like "Schroedinger's Cat", until you resolve the field of probabilities, you don't actually know the answer. Until the end of time, you really wont know. For man it is an unknown, and you can't pretend to know the mind of God.

Prove that they are aware of us and our needs using scripture

Matt 19:28 shows the Apostles on thrones with Jesus in Heaven. Clearly they exercise some sort of authority and influence with the Father in Heaven. As Solomon had his Mother in the Throne room, so is the Mother of Christ.

You are correct though there are no instances of the Apostles praying or honoring those in Heaven except Moses and Elijah (Mark 9:5), where Christ rebuked them for attempted to build tents for the three, he did not rebuke them for the honor of them. Why those three? Because only Moses and Elijah were considered to be with God at the time, in fact, we could say they were early Saints. In anticipation of Christ, they were counted as among the first to worship before God.

And what about ex-saint Christopher? Are his prayers still valid? Does he wield the same influence now that he has been de-sainted?

Show me a act of the Pope, that proclaims he is not a Saint? There isn't. Saint Christopher hasn't been de-sainted. He was counted among the Saints from his death in 251, and is recorded as a Saint from Justinian.