The Strange Medal that Protects You from Evil
The power of the cross and medal of St. Benedict lies in Christ, who bestows it on the church and in the excellent disposition of the wearer.
Who is Saint Benedict?
What is the significance of the Medal of St. Benedict?
What miracles does the Medal of St. Benedict perform?
For those who do not know the Medal of St. Benedict, this sacramental is recognized by the Catholic Church with the incredible power of exorcism and deliverance from demonic influences.
Like all sacramentals, its power is not because it is a beautiful and blessed medal with a prayer inscribed; let us not fall into superstition!
The medal of St. Benedict has its power in Christ Himself, who gives it to the church and, by the emotional disposition of the wearer, through faith!
That is a power conferred by Christ upon His Church so that all decreed in favour of the rescue of souls may be recognized by Christ as a good work.
Who is Saint Benedict?
He is considered the patron saint of Europe, proclaimed by Pope Paul VI through the Apostolic Letter "Pacis nuntius" and patriarch of Western monasticism. He founded, as we know, the Benedictine Order.
This saint was born in Nursia (Italy) in 480. His family was noble; among them, we can mention his sister Scholastica, who, like him, is also a saint.
He studied in Rome, but after this formation, he decided to retire to Subiaco and escape the city's life.
He wanted to lead a prayer life, settling in a cave where he would remain for several years.
The iconography of Saint Benedict
No one knew of his existence until a monk found him years later. During this time, St. Benedict grew in knowledge of himself and his fellow man.
He was proposed for the position of abbot of a nearby monastery, which he accepted after much insistence.
In this monastery, they did not agree with his rules, and on several occasions, for various reasons, there were several attempts to poison him, from which he emerged unscathed, thanks to the blessing he made on what he drank.
He returned to Subiaco and preached the Word of God; several people wanted to follow him, becoming his disciples.
He moved after some years to Montecasino, where, on the ruins of an ancient temple, he began the construction of a monastery and founded the Benedictine Community in the year 530.
Its purpose was to spread Christianity, establishing its monasteries with a regime based on autocracy, hence the "ora et labora".
He left us the well-known "Rule of St. Benedict", where the saint reflected his method and discipline.
This rule comprises 73 chapters, where he left us writings concerning the precepts of monastic life. A model of collective life, ordered to prayer and work.
His way of life would influence other monasteries throughout history for the development of Western monasticism.
He left our land in the year 547, on March 21, a few days after the death of his sister.
A curious fact is that he is considered the saint of the good death, like St. Joseph.
It is essential to mention that the information we know about him is thanks to the "Dialogues of St. Gregory the Great".
Meaning of the Saint Benedict Medal
It is a sacramental medal from St. Benedict's devotion to the cross.
It dates from ancient times, and he recommended it to his disciples to protect them against evil and temptations through faith. It is used today, especially by exorcist priests.
Pope Benedict XIV approved it in 1742, and the formula for its blessing was incorporated into the Roman Rite, granting a plenary indulgence to the medal, considering the stipulated conditions.
In 1880, on the commemoration of the 1400th anniversary of the birth of St. Benedict, his medal, the meaning of which had been a mystery, was made known.
The details we know are as follows:
The front face of the medal.
We find the image of St. Benedict, holding the cross in his right hand and the book of the Rules in his left hand.
Around it, we find this inscription: "Eius in óbitu nostro preséntia muniámur" which means that your presence protects us at the hour of our death.
If we look at the lower part, on one side, we find the figure of a raven carrying a loaf of bread in its beak, a sign of the poisoned food given to it.
On the other side, we see a cup alluding to the other poisoning they wanted to do to him, but a snake came out when he made the blessing over it.
At the bottom of the image is another inscription, "Crux sancti patris Benedicti": Cross of the Holy Father Benedict.
The reverse of the medal
We found the cross and on it the following inscriptions:
At the top : Pax: peace.
On the vertical pole of the cross: C.S.S.M.L "Crux Sácra Sit Mihi Lux", which means may the Holy Cross be my light.
On the horizontal pole: N.D.S.M.D "Nón Draco Sit Mihi Dux", which means that the devil is not my guide.
The letters C.S.P.B are read on each side of the cross-reference the Cross of the Holy Father Benedict.
In the circle, at the edge of the medal and following the hands of the clock, the following is translated:
V.R.S. "Vade Retro Satan": Back away Satan.
N.S.M.V "Non-Suáde Mihi Vána": I am unsatisfied with vain things.
S.M.Q.L "Sunt Mála Quae Libas": What you offer me is bad.
I.V.B "Ípse Venéna Bíbas": Drink your own poison.
Indulgences and Blessings of the Medal of St. Benedict
On March 12, 1742, Benedict XIV conceded a plenary pardon to the Medal of St. Benedict if the person fulfils the following conditions:
The Sacrament of Reconciliation is made; he receives the Eucharist, prays for the Holy Father on the great feasts and during that week, prays the holy rosary, visits the sick, helps the poor, teaches the Christian Faith or participates in Holy Mass.
The great feasts above are Christmas, Epiphany, Easter, Ascension, Pentecost, Holy Trinity, Corpus Christi, Assumption of Mary, Immaculate Conception, Birth of Mary, All Saints and Feast of St. Benedict.
Those who wear the medal of St. Benedict at the hour of death will be protected as long as they entrust themselves to the Father, go to confession and receive communion or at least invoke the name of Jesus with deep repentance.
Partial Indulgences
Two hundred days of indulgence will be granted if one visits the sick for a week, visits the church, or teaches children the faith.
Seven years of indulgence if one celebrates Mass or is present and prays for Christians' welfare or their rulers.
Seven years if one accompanies the sick on All Saints' Day.
One hundred days if one prays before Holy Mass or receiving Holy Communion.
Anyone who, on his account by his advice or example, converts a sinner obtains the remission of the third part of his sins.
Anyone who, on Holy Thursday or on Resurrection Day, after a good confession and after receiving the Eucharist, prays for the exaltation of the church, for the needs of the Holy Father, will gain the indulgences he needs.
Anyone who prays for the exaltation of the Benedictine Order will receive a portion of all the good works performed by this Order.
Sources:
https://www.aciprensa.com
https://es.wikipedia.org
https://www.abadiadesilos.es
Thanks for reading!
Rocio Becerra