The Church celebrates the Feast of St. Benedict on July 11.
Born in 480 AD, we are taught St. Benedict was a strong, courageous, and reverent monk, who lived a life of solitude with total faith in God’s protection against all evil.
Many seek his protection my carrying or wearing his medal.
The medal that dates back to 1880 is one of the most popular of all Catholic medals. It is said to ward off evil and Satan.
The front and back of the medal hold a bit of the story of this holy soul.
The St. Benedict medal features his image on one side and his cross on the other. The image of St. Benedict includes him holding a cross and his rules, and on one side a cup and the other a raven. The story handed down reveals that an evil soul tried to poison the saint at dinner, when St. Benedict made the sign of the cross above his cup before the meal, the cup shattered instantly, and a raven swooped in and swiped the poisoned bread.
Above the cup are the words Crux sancti patris Benedicti, which is translated to “the cross of our holy Father Benedict.” Encircling St. Benedict are the words Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur, which means, “May we be strengthened by His presence in the hour of our death.”
On the back of the Benedictine medal, you will find the letters C S S M L – N D S M D. These letters are the initials of the words, “Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Non draco sit mihi dux!” In English, they translate to, “May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord!” The larger letters on the back of the St Benedict medal are simply the initials found above Benedict on the front of the medal CSPB. At the top of the cross is the word PAX which means peace.
Around the outer circle of the medal are the initials of each line of the Rite of Exorcism – V R S N S M V – S M Q L I V B (Vade retro Satana! Numquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas!) Translated it means “Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!”
Call upon St. Benedict to intercede for you and your loved ones, protecting from all evil.
