Fr. Anthony Amato is the Pastor of St. Peter's Parish in Clifton Springs, New York. He was ordained as a priest in June of 2017 by Bishop Salvatore Matano of the Diocese of Rochester, New York.

 

 

• In the celebration of Holy Mass, what happens if a priest does not drink from the chalice after consecration? Is the Eucharist valid? Is the Mass valid?
• What are your thoughts on the practice of "intinction" where a priest dips the Body of Christ into the chalice rather than drinking from it?
• My son is getting married, and his fiancée's family did not raise her in any particular religion. They do not want to alienate her whole side of the family by marrying in a church. We have a good family friend who is a priest. Can they ask him to attend as a guest and bless the marriage?
• Who are the most important saints to pray to besides members of the Holy Family?
• At what point are kids obligated to attend Sunday and Holy Day masses? Are they obligated once they have received their First Holy Communion?
• In the Bible, the Magi see the star and follow it. But, as Catholics, we are taught not to follow astrological signs (things such as horoscopes and the like). What is the difference between the two scenarios?
• Are priests required to say a mass every day?
• If a couple was married 50-ish years and practiced birth control, but had no knowledge of the Church's teaching at the time, how do they go about confessing that? Is it a grave sin?
• What does it mean to "venerate" a relic and how does one do that? What kind of power do these relics have? Do we receive some kind of special graces for venerating relics?
• Is there a danger of putting too much faith in the power of a relic?
• If the devil can't read our minds, in order to plot against us, does he listen in on our confessions?
• Is the Earth described as flat or circular in the Bible, or is this even mentioned at all?
• Do you believe that there is a certain music repertoire that every Catholic should know? How can we ensure that traditional music is not lost forever?
• I wonder how it came to be that the church decided to dispense with some rules but kept some others. For example, things like dietary rules and rules about care of the body are out, but rules on things like marriage and tithing remain today. Do you have any thoughts on this?

 

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