I’m an (small “o”) orthodox Christian, so of course I believe Christ is in Heaven, and the saints who have died are there with Him.
Knowing that, read my post above again though—just because the saints are in Heaven communing with Jesus, does NOT mean God has given them the ability to know all things (as He does) and hear our prayers. There is ZERO (0!) evidence from scripture that:
1) The Saints who are in heaven now possess the all-knowing/all-hearing attributes of God Himself and,
2) Christians on earth should seek the mediation of saints in Heaven who have died.
If it was such an important thing to do, don’t you think St. Paul, St. John, St. James, St. Matthew, St. Mark, St. Luke, St. Peter and the rest, would have told us about it? However, NOT A SINGLE WORD in their testimony RECOMMENDING asking saints who have died and gone to Heaven to pray for us. How can we call a practice important when the Bible does not?
The test of whether something is right or wrong is whether it is based on obedience to the holy Scriptures, NOT whether it works....(that is known as utilitarian ethics).
On the contrary, attempting to speak to people who have died (even very godly people, like the Prophet Samuel (I Sam. 28:3-5)) is utterly forbidden.
“For there is one God, and there is one mediator between God and men, the man Christ Jesus, who gave himself as a ransom for all...” I Timothy 2:5,6
**just because the saints are in Heaven communing with Jesus, does NOT mean God has given them the ability to know all things (as He does) and hear our prayers.**
On what evidence are you basing your opinion?
Scripture?
Tradition?
As interpreted by a Council of the Catholic Church?
As state by the Magisterium?
You’ve only talked about Scripture. There are other sources of information.
What if there are other answers?
What if the saints really can hear you? And pass the message on to God the Father, God the Son or God the Holy Spirit.
We can’t answer that question — but you seem to think you have quashed it already. I think that is what you are saying. Am I correct?
So do you want to check out the other sources?