There have been quite a few questions on the 'orthodoxy' of praying to saints, or rather asking them to pray for us1. Also questions on why Protestants don't/should do the same. My question is slightly more practical: leaving aside whether it's 'allowed' or not: what is the basis for Catholics believing that we might even be heard?
God is omnipresent, so being able to pray to him anywhere and any time 'makes sense'. Even if the saints are currently 'alive' (rather than being in limbo awaiting judgement day), what is the 'mechanism' by which they are supposed to be able to 'hear' our requests?
1 I'm not yet convinced that this distinction is really respected in practice.