Catholic Caucus: Daily Mass Readings 2-June-2026

Mark
	English: Douay-Rheims	Latin: Vulgata Clementina	Greek NT: Byzantine/Majority Text (2000)
	Mark 12
13.	And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and of the Herodians; that they should catch him in his words.	Et mittunt ad eum quosdam ex pharisæis, et herodianis, ut eum caperent in verbo.	και αποστελλουσιν προς αυτον τινας των φαρισαιων και των ηρωδιανων ινα αυτον αγρευσωσιν λογω
14.	Who coming, say to him: Master, we know that thou art a true speaker, and carest not for any man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Caesar; or shall we not give it?	Qui venientes dicunt ei : Magister, scimus quia verax es, et non curas quemquam : nec enim vides in faciem hominum, sed in veritate viam Dei doces. Licet dari tributum Cæsari, an non dabimus ?	οι δε ελθοντες λεγουσιν αυτω διδασκαλε οιδαμεν οτι αληθης ει και ου μελει σοι περι ουδενος ου γαρ βλεπεις εις προσωπον ανθρωπων αλλ επ αληθειας την οδον του θεου διδασκεις εξεστιν κηνσον καισαρι δουναι η ου
15.	Who knowing their wiliness, saith to them: Why tempt you me? bring me a penny that I may see it.	Qui sciens versutiam illorum, ait illos : Quid me tentatis ? afferte mihi denarium ut videam.	δωμεν η μη δωμεν ο δε ειδως αυτων την υποκρισιν ειπεν αυτοις τι με πειραζετε φερετε μοι δηναριον ινα ιδω
16.	And they brought it him. And he saith to them: Whose is this image and inscription? They say to him, Caesar's.	At illi attulerunt ei. Et ait illis : Cujus est imago hæc, et inscriptio ? Dicunt ei : Cæsaris.	οι δε ηνεγκαν και λεγει αυτοις τινος η εικων αυτη και η επιγραφη οι δε ειπον αυτω καισαρος
17.	And Jesus answering, said to them: Render therefore to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's. And they marvelled at him.	Respondens autem Jesus dixit illis : Reddite igitur quæ sunt Cæsaris, Cæsari : et quæ sunt Dei, Deo. Et mirabantur super eo.	και αποκριθεις ο ιησους ειπεν αυτοις αποδοτε τα καισαρος καισαρι και τα του θεου τω θεω και εθαυμασαν επ αυτω

Catena Aurea by St. Thomas Aguinas

12:13–17

13. And they send unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

14. And when they were come, they say unto him, Master, we know that thou art true, and carest for no man; for thou regardest not the person of men, but teachest the way of God in truth: Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not?

15. Shall we give, or shall we not give? But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it.

16. And they brought it. And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s.

17. And Jesus answering said unto them, Render to Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and to God the things that are God’s. And they marvelled at him.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) The Chief Priests though they sought to take Him, feared the multitude, and therefore they endeavoured to effect what they could not do of themselves, by means of earthly powers, that they might themselves appear to be guiltless of His death; and therefore it is said, And they send, unto him certain of the Pharisees and of the Herodians, to catch him in his words.

THEOPHYLACT. We have said elsewhere of the Herodians, that they were a certain new heresy, who said that Herod was the Christ, because the succession of the kingdom of Judah had failed. Others however say that the Herodians were the soldiers of Herod, whom the Pharisees brought as witnesses of the words of Christ, that they might take Him, and lead Him away. But observe how in their wickedness they wished to deceive Christ by flattery; for it goes on: Master, we know that thou art true.

PSEUDO-JEROME. For they questioned Him with honied words, and they surrounded Him as bees, who carry honey in their mouth, but a sting in their tail.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) But this bland and crafty question was intended to induce Him in His answer rather to fear God than Cæsar, and to say that tribute should not be paid, so that the Herodians immediately on hearing it might hold Him to be an author of sedition against the Romans; and therefore they add, And carest for no man: for thou regardest not the person of any.

THEOPHYLACT. So that thou wilt not honour Cæsar, that is, against the truth; therefore they add, But teachest the way of God in truth. Is it lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, or not? Shall we give, or shall we not give? For their whole plot was one which had a precipice on both sides, so that if He said that it was lawful to give tribute to Cæsar, they might provoke the people against Him, as though He wished to reduce the nation itself to slavery; but if He said, that it was not lawful, they might accuse Him, as though He was stirring up the people against Cæsar; but the Fountain of wisdom escaped their snares. Wherefore there follows: But he, knowing their hypocrisy, said unto them, Why tempt ye me? bring me a penny, that I may see it. And they brought it.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) A denarius was a piece of money, accounted equal to ten smaller coins, and bearing the image of Cæsar; wherefore there follows: And he saith unto them, Whose is this image and superscription? And they said unto him, Cæsar’s. Let those who think that our Saviour asked the question through ignorance and not by an economy, learn from this that He might have known whose image it was; but He puts the question, in order to return them a fitting answer; wherefore there follows: And Jesus answering said unto them, Render unto Cæsar the things that are Cæsar’s, and unto God the things that are God’s.

THEOPHYLACT. As if He had said, Give what bears an image to him whose image it bears, that is, the penny to Cæsar; for we can both pay Cæsar his tribute, and offer to God what is His own.

BEDE. (ubi sup.) That is, tithes, first-fruits, oblations, and victims. In the same way as He gave tribute both for Himself and Peter, He also gave to God the things that are God’s, doing the will of His Father.

PSEUDO-JEROME. Render to Cæsar the money bearing his image, which is collected for him, and render yourselves willingly up to God, for the light of thy countenance, O Lord, and not of Cæsar’s, is stamped upon us. (Ps 4:7. Vulg.)

THEOPHYLACT. The inevitable wants of our bodies is as Cæsar unto each of us; the Lord therefore orders that there should be given to the body its own, that is, food and raiment, and to God the things that are God’s. It goes on: And they marvelled at him. They who ought to have believed, wondered at such great wisdom, because they had found no place for their craftiness.

Catena Aurea Mark 12

The Patron Saint of Sailors – The Story Behind St. Elmo (Erasmus of Fornia)

Jun 12, 2020 by Editor in Chief

St. Erasmus, known commonly as St. Elmo, was a Bishop of Formia, Italy. The name Erasmus comes from the Greek and means “beloved.” St. Elmo was a devout Christian who spread the gospel and baptized despite being imprisoned, tortured, beaten, starved, and being tarred and set on fire.

St. Elmo is widely venerated as the patron saint of sailors and invoked by them against storms. He is also invoked against abdominal pains, intestinal ailments, labor pains, colic in children, and cattle pests. Here are 11 of the most important things you need to know about St. Elmo.

1 Saint Elmo Died in 303 AD After Being Disemboweled

St. Elmo’s life is a story of continuous torture and attempted murder. It begins when St. Elmo was tortured, chained and thrown into prison by Emperor Diocletian, who was fiercely persecuting Christians in the Roman Empire. An angel freed him, and St. Elmo preached and baptized on his way back to Italy. When he was passing through the province of Lycia (in modern Turkey) he raised the son of a local magnate from the dead and was arrested by the co-emperor of Diocletian, Emperor Maximian Hercules. Emperor Maximian Hercules sealed him in a wooden barrel with iron spikes on the inside, after which the barrel was rolled down a slope. St. Elmo survived, was tortured more, then escaped, was recaptured, beaten, scourged, and then tarred and set on fire. St. Elmo survived, and so was thrown into prison and left to starve to death. Yet again, St. Elmo escaped and went on preaching and baptizing. St. Elmo was captured again and his torturers split his abdomen and wound his bowels around a windlass. He finally died.

#2 Saint Elmo Was “Canonized” in 917 AD

St. Elmo is considered to have been made a saint in 917 when his remains were presented to the bishop of Gaeta, who proclaimed St. Elmo to be the patron of the diocese. This proclamation by the local bishop is considered to be equivalent to today’s canonization. He was never formally canonized, as he lived in a time called “pre-congregation,” which was before the creation of today’s formal process of canonization where the Catholic Church decides whether someone is worthy of universal veneration. Devotion to the Saint spread to the rest of Italy and was approved by the Pope.

#3 Saint Elmo Is Venerated in Gaeta in Its Oldest Festival

From 1862, St. Elmo has been celebrated in Gaeta, along with Gaeta’s other patron saint, St. Marciano, annually on June 1-2. The celebrations used to include a bullfight but currently begin with offerings to the patron saints and a solemn procession of the relics of the saints from the cathedral to the town hall. Afterward, there are civil festivities, including fireworks at the seaside. There is also a traditional “Sea Procession” where the remains are put on a ship, the Signora del Vento, which sails from Caboto quay to a nearby commercial port.

#4 Saint Elmo’s Symbol and Iconography Is Known as “Saint Elmo’s Fire”

“Saint Elmo’s Fire” is a form of static electricity whereby the points of the masts of a ship give off visible electrical discharges, which often occurs during lightning storms. It was seemingly named after St. Elmo because of the time when he was unfazed by a nearby lightning bolt that struck nearby while he was preaching. Sailors believed St. Elmo’s Fire is a sign of the Saint’s presence and favor.

St. Erasmus is often depicted in bishop’s vestments bearing a crosier in one hand and a windlass in the other or being martyred with the windlass drawing out his intestines. The famous French painter Nicolas Poussin painted St. Erasmus being killed in this way, and the painting hangs above the altar of St. Erasmus in the Vatican in Vatican City.

#5 St. Elmo’s Feast Day Celebration Is on June 2nd

His feast day is June 2, the day of his martyrdom, and is especially celebrated in Gaeta.

#6 Saint Elmo’s Remains Are in Gaeta, Italy

St. Elmo’s remains are currently interred in the Cathedral Church of Gaeta, located in Gaeta, Italy. Previously, his bones were laid to rest by the Christians of Formia and remained there until 842, when Saracens destroyed the city. The bones were rescued by refugees and taken to the nearby city of Gaeta, where they remained hidden until 917.

#7 The Location of Saint Elmo’s Major Shrine Is in Valletta, Malta

St. Elmo has a shrine at Fort Saint Elmo in Valletta, Malta, built by the Knights of Saint John of Malta in the sixteenth century. Separately, there is an altar dedicated to him in Saint Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

#8 Saint Elmo Was Venerated as One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

St. Elmo had a strong following during the Middle Ages when he was venerated as one of the “Fourteen Holy Helpers.” The “Fourteen Holy Helpers” are fourteen ancient saints believed to be effective when prayed to for common ailments and pains. Within this group, St. Elmo is invoked for abdominal maladies in particular. Some of the other Fourteen Holy Helpers include familiar names such as Saint Barbara, Saint Christopher, Saint George and Saint Catherine, each of which are invoked for a different ailment. These saints started to be invoked as a group during the Black Plague in Europe beginning in 1346.

#9 Saint Elmo Was Honored in the Great Siege of Malta

As patron of sailors, St. Elmo was especially honored by the crusading Knights of Saint John of Malta and their defense of the Fort of Saint Elmo during the Great Siege of Malta in 1565, which was pivotal in preventing the Turks invading Western Europe.

Saint Elmo Is Sometimes Confused With the Other Elmos

The name “Saint Elmo” is also used for another patron of sailors, Blessed Peter Gonzalez, a Dominican friar and priest who died in 1246. This Saint is especially invoked by the Spanish and Portuguese. In addition, some accounts confuse St. Elmo with the Syrian bishop, Erasmus of Antioch.

#11 Saint Elmo Survived on Food from Heaven While Hiding

St. Elmo survived on food from a raven when he was in hiding. He had fled to Mount Lebanon during Emperor’s Diocletian’s vicious persecution of Christians and hid there until he was discovered and arrested by the Emperor.

Conclusion

Though his extraordinary life might not be strictly historical, we should remember that he was remembered through the ages as a man who strove to do God’s will no matter what the cost. The veneration shown by the people of God over many generations bears witness to St. Elmo’s faith and holiness and encourages us to follow his example.

Author Bio

Natalie Regoli is a child of God, devoted wife, and mother of two boys. She has a Master's Degree in Law from The University of Texas. Natalie has been published in several national journals and has been practicing law for 18 years.

NAVARRE BIBLE COMMENTARY(RSV)

Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam (To the Greater Glory of God)

Today’s First Reading

From: 2 Peter 3:12-15a, 17-18

Moral Lessons to be Drawn
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[11] Since all these things are thus to be dissolved, what sort of persons ought you to be in lives of holiness and godliness [12] waiting for and hastening the coming of the day of God, because of which the heavens will be kindled and dissolved, and the elements will melt with fire! [13] But according to his promise we wait for new heavens and a new earth in which righteousness dwells.

[14] Therefore, beloved, since you wait for these, be zealous to be found by him without spot or blemish, and at peace. [15a] And count the forbearance of our Lord as salvation.

[17] You therefore, beloved, knowing this beforehand, beware lest you be carried away with the error of lawless men and lose your own stability. [18] But grow in the grace and knowledge of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. To him be the glory both now and to the day of eternity. Amen.

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Commentary:

11-16. The writer now follows up these considerations with a moral exhortation, based on the conviction that the old world will disappear (v. 12) producing new heavens and a new earth (v. 13), and that men living in the period prior to this cataclysm will not know when it is going to happen (v. 15).

All this should not make Christians afraid; in fact, it should bolster their hope (vv. 12-14). God will keep his promise to grant heaven to those who persevere in good; but this hope of future reward should not lead one to neglect temporal affairs: "Far from diminishing our concern to develop the earth, the expectancy of a new earth should spur us on, for it is here that the body of a new human family grows, foreshadowing in some way the age which is to come" (Vatican II, "Gaudium Et Spes", 39).

Hope opens the way to upright conduct (v. 11) of an even higher standard (v. 14). Christians should realize that they have a pressing duty to grow in virtue as long as they live in this world (v. 15): "God may have given us just one more year in which to serve him. Don't think of five, or even two. Just concentrate on this one year, that has just started. Give it to God, don't bury it! This is the resolution we ought to make" (St J. Escriva, "Friends of God", 47).

The practice of virtue leads to holiness and enduring union with God (v. 14; cf. 1 Thess 3:13). "'While we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord' (2 Cor 5:6) and, although we have the first fruits of the Spirit, we groan inwardly (cf. Rom 8:23) in our anxiety to be with Christ (cf. Phil 1:23). The same love urges us to live more for Him who died for us and who rose again (cf. 2 Cor 5:15). We make it our aim, then, to please the Lord in all things (cf. 2 Cor 5:9) and we put on the armor of God that we may be able to stand against the wiles of the devil and resist the evil day (cf. Eph 6: 13)" ("Lumen Gentium", 48).

12. "Waiting for and hastening": these two verbs convey the idea that Christian hope is something dynamic; it is in no way passive. Contrary to a view quite widespread among the Jews of the time, it does not mean that the Parousia will come sooner, the more meritorious men are; what it means is that the more closely united to Christ they are, the nearer they are to his glory. Therefore, it is urgent that all should embrace faith in Christ. We who have this faith pray in the Our Father, "Thy kingdom come." The first Christians made the same petition in their ejaculatory prayer, "Marana tha", "Come, Lord" (1 Cor 16:22; Rev 22:20), referring to the second coming of the Lord.

"The day of God": the usual expression in the New Testament is "the day of the Lord" (1 Cor 1:8; 5:5; 1 Thess 5:2; 2 Thess 2:2; 2 Pet 3:10); both expressions refer to the point at which Christ will come to judge the living and the dead.

13. "New heavens and a new earth": one of things promised for the End is that creation will be renewed, re-fashioned: the prophets proclaimed this (cf. Is 65:17), and the New Testament speaks of drinking new wine at the heavenly banquet (cf. Mt 14:25), being given a new name (cf. Rev 2:17), singing a new song (cf. Rev 5:9), living in a new Jerusalem (Rev 21:3). All this imagery conveys the idea that the whole universe will be transformed, man included (cf. Rom 8:19-22). "We know neither the moment of the consummation of the earth and of man (cf. Acts 1:7) nor the way the universe will be transformed. The form of this world, distorted by sin, is passing away (cf. 1 Cor 7:31), and we are taught that God is preparing a new dwelling and a new earth in which righteousness dwells (cf. 2 Cor 5:2; 2 Pet 3:13), whose happiness will fill and surpass all the desires of peace arising in the hearts of men" ("Gaudium Et Spes", 39).

17-18. The letter ends with a very succinct summary of some of its main points-- pastoral concern, ways to defend oneself against false teachers, and faith in the divinity of Christ.

"Beloved": the faithful are referred to in this solicitous way elsewhere in the letter (3:1, 8, 14). The warnings and threats made by the sacred writer are born of his pastoral zeal to establish them in the truth (1:12) and remind them what the true teaching is (3:1).

When he encourages them not to lose their "own strength", he is reminding them that firmness in the faith is an essential weapon for protecting themselves against deceitful teachers who are causing their faith and morals to waver (cf. 2; 3:16). Understanding and love should be shown towards those who are in error, but this should not "make us indifferent to truth and goodness. Love, in fact, impels the followers of Christ to proclaim to all men the truth which saves ("Gaudium Et Spes", 28).

"To him be the glory": most of the doxologies which appear in the New Testament are in praise of God the Father (cf. Jude 25; Rom 16:27); this one addressed to Christ, whose divinity, as in other passages of the epistle, is openly confessed, He has the same glory as the Father: the doxology is not simply expressing a desire but stating a fact. The eternal love of Jesus Christ is the basis of the Christian's hope. "While she slowly grows to maturity, the Church longs for the completed Kingdom and, with all her strength, hopes and desires, to be united in glory with her King" ("Lumen Gentium", 5).

Today’s Gospel Reading

From: Mark 12:13-17

On tribute to Caesar
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[13] And they sent to him some of the Pharisees and some of the Hero'di-ans, to entrap him in his talk. [14] And they came and said to him, "Teacher, we know that you are true, and care for no man; for you do not regard the position of men, but truly teach the way of God. Is it lawful to pay taxes to Caesar, or not? [15] Should we pay them, or should we not?" But knowing their hypocrisy, he said to them, "Why put me to the test? Bring me a coin, and let me look at it." [16] And they brought one. And he said to them, "Whose likeness and inscription is this?" They said to him, "Caesar's." [17 Jesus said to them, "Render to Caesar the things that are Caesar's, and to God the things that are God's." And they were amazed at him.

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Commentary:

13-17. Jesus uses this situation to teach that man belongs totally to his Creator: "You must perforce give Caesar the coin which bears his likeness, but let you give your whole being to God, because it is his likeness, not Caesar's that you bear" (St. Jerome, "Comm. in Marcum, in loc.").

Our Lord here asserts a principle which should guide the action of Christians in public life. The Church recognizes the rightful autonomy of earthly realities, but this does not mean that she has not a responsibility to light them up with the light of the Gospel. When they work shoulder to shoulder with other citizens to develop society, Christian lay people should bring a Christian influence to bear: "If the role of the Hierarchy is to teach and to interpret authentically the norms of morality to be followed in this matter, it belongs to lay people, without waiting passively for orders and directives, to take the initiative freely and to infuse a Christian spirit into the mentality, customs, laws and structures of the community in which they live. Changes are necessary, basic reforms are indispensable; lay people should strive resolutely to permeate them with the spirit of the Gospel" (St. Paul VI, "Populorum Progressio", 81).

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Readings at Mass

We are waiting for the new heaven and the new earth

Give back to Caesar what belongs to Caesar and to God what belongs to God

Christian Art

Catena Aurea by St. Thomas Aguinas

The Patron Saint of Sailors – The Story Behind St. Elmo (Erasmus of Fornia)

Jun 12, 2020 by Editor in Chief

1 Saint Elmo Died in 303 AD After Being Disemboweled

#2 Saint Elmo Was “Canonized” in 917 AD

#3 Saint Elmo Is Venerated in Gaeta in Its Oldest Festival

#4 Saint Elmo’s Symbol and Iconography Is Known as “Saint Elmo’s Fire”

#5 St. Elmo’s Feast Day Celebration Is on June 2nd

#6 Saint Elmo’s Remains Are in Gaeta, Italy

#7 The Location of Saint Elmo’s Major Shrine Is in Valletta, Malta

#8 Saint Elmo Was Venerated as One of the Fourteen Holy Helpers

#9 Saint Elmo Was Honored in the Great Siege of Malta

Saint Elmo Is Sometimes Confused With the Other Elmos

#11 Saint Elmo Survived on Food from Heaven While Hiding

Conclusion

Author Bio