WHAT SHOULD YOU KNOW ABOUT ST. BENEDICT’S MEDAL?

There is indeed no medal that possesses such wonderful power and none so highly esteemed by the holy Church as the Medal of St. Benedict. Whosoever wears this medal with devotion, trusting to the life-giving power of the holy Cross and the merits of the holy Father St. Benedict, may expect the powerful protection of this great Patriarch in his spiritual and temporal needs.

HISTORY OF THE MEDAL

Saint Benedict had a deep faith in and devotion to the cross, which he passed on to succeeding generations of Benedictines. It was this devotion that inspired Christians to the striking of medals. In such medals, Saint Benedict was often depicted with a cross in one hand and the Rule of Benedict in the other. Over time, the large letters surrounding the cross on the reverse side were added. The medal we recognize today is known as the Jubilee medal and was struck in 1880 under the supervision of the monks of Montecassino to mark the 1400th anniversary of Saint Benedict’s birth. The Jubilee medal includes all of the features associated or included on previous medals.

THE FRONT OF THE MEDAL

We see St. Benedict holding his Rule; next to him, on a pedestal, is the cup that once held poison, shattered after he made the Sign of the Cross over it. The other pedestal is topped by the raven, who is about to carry away the poisoned bread. In very small print above these pedestals are the words: Crux s. patris Benedicti (The Cross of our Holy Father Benedict).
Underneath St. Benedict are the words: ex SM Casino MDCCCLXXX (from holy Monte Cassino, 1880).
Surrounding the entire face of the medal are the words: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur (May we at our death be fortified by his presence.)

THE BACK OF THE MEDAL

PAX (Pax) -- Peace
CSPB (Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti) -- The Cross of Holy Father Benedict
CSSML (Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux!) -- May the holy cross be my light!
NDSMD (Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux!) -- May the dragon (devil) never be my overlord!
VRS (Vade Retro Satana!) -- Begone satan!
NSMV (Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana!) -- Never tempt me with your vanities!
SMQL (Sunt Mala Quae Libas.) -- What you offer me is evil.
IVB (Ipse venena bibas!) -- Drink the poison yourself!

WAYS OF THE ST. BENEDICT MEDAL

The St. Benedict medal is used by exorcists, even today. Lay people are permitted to use the St. Benedict Medal to ward off evil (but not conduct exorcisms). Some of the medal’s permitted useage by the Church includes:

wear the medal around the neck;
attach it to one’s rosary;
kept in one’s pocket or purse;
attach it to one’s keychain;
affixed to one’s car or home;
placed in the foundation of a building;
affixed to the center of a crucifix, usually behind the corpus.

LIFEOF ST. BENEDICT

St. Benedict fled from schooling in Rome during his twenties to lead a more pious, secluded life. Eventually, he drove himself so deep in seclusion that be became a hermit. During his time in hermitude, the Devil lit up Benedict’s imagination with images of a alluring woman. To resist the temptation, Benedict rolled around in a thorn bush, showing his temperament against the Devil’s influence. Years after this incident, word of his piousness got out. Monks traveled to his dwelling and asked for him to become their leader. A falling out between the monks and him occurred, giving them reason to attempt to poison him with a drink. It’s said that Benedict prayed over the drink before sipping it and the container shattered. Once again, he showed his faith’s power over evil. At another point, an envious priest sent a piece of poisoned bread to St. Benedict. A raven carried the bread away before St. Benedict could eat it. St. Benedict, with his piety, warded off the Devil’s advances on his life. After his death, when intercessory prayers were made to him, St. Benedict helped others ward off the Devil’s advances and death by poison. His life and legacy is why the medal honoring him is so popular. Many want to be associated with the same level of spiritual and physical protection St. Benedict received.

WHERE CAN I GET A ST. BENEDICT MEDAL?

At BGCOPPER.com one can find a vast collection of St. Benedict’s medals. Do you want to wear it around your neck or carry it in your pocket? Do you want the medal to look like jewelry? Your budget should match your desires accordingly.

Catholic Saint Benedict's evil ring Jesus exorcist

The St. Benedict Medal is a powerful supplement to your faith. When used with earnesty and coupled with prayer, the medal can act as barrier between you and evil.