An Ancient Prayer of Exorcism Still Used by the Church Today
Few sacramentals in the Catholic Church carry as much spiritual weight—or as fascinating a history—as the Medal of St. Benedict.
Sometimes called the "devil-chasing medal," this small but powerful object contains an ancient prayer of exorcism that has been in continuous use for centuries and remains a trusted tool in the ministry of official Catholic exorcists to this day.
But what makes this medal so significant? To understand its power, we must first understand the remarkable saint whose name it bears and the long tradition of exorcism in the Catholic Church.
St. Benedict of Nursia: Monk, Miracle Worker, and Exorcist
Saint Benedict was born around 480 AD in Nursia, a small town in the mountains of central Italy. He came from a distinguished family and was sent to Rome for his education, but the moral corruption he witnessed there drove him to abandon worldly pursuits entirely. He withdrew to a cave at Subiaco, where he lived as a hermit for three years, devoting himself completely to prayer and penance.
Word of his holiness spread, and men began gathering around him seeking guidance. Benedict eventually established twelve monasteries and later founded the great Abbey of Monte Cassino, where he wrote his famous Rule for Monasteries—a balanced guide to monastic life emphasizing prayer, work, and community that would become the foundation of Western monasticism.
What many Catholics today may not realize is that Benedict was also a powerful exorcist. Pope St. Gregory the Great, writing just fifty years after Benedict's death, devoted an entire book of his Dialogues to recounting the saint's life and miracles. These accounts reveal a man who repeatedly confronted and defeated demonic forces through prayer and the Sign of the Cross.
Benedict's Encounters with the Devil
Gregory's Dialogues are filled with accounts of Benedict's spiritual warfare. The devil appeared to him in various forms—as a blackbird during intense temptation, as a false physician seeking to "administer a potion" to his monks, and even openly taunting him during the construction of Monte Cassino.
In one memorable account, Benedict encountered the devil disguised as a physician riding a mule. When asked where he was going, the devil replied he was going to the monastery to give the monks "medicine." Benedict hurried to the chapel to pray, and when he returned, he found one of his elderly monks possessed—thrown to the ground and tortured by the evil spirit. Gregory writes that "as soon as the man of God, returning from prayer, found him thus cruelly tormented, he gave him only a blow with his hand, and immediately drove out that cruel enemy, who dared stay there no longer."
In another case, a clergyman from Aquino who had been tormented by an evil spirit was brought to Benedict after visits to various martyrs' shrines had failed to bring relief. Benedict prayed over him and "presently drove out the enemy." He then warned the man never to eat meat or seek Holy Orders, or else he would fall back under demonic influence.
The Poisoned Cup and the Raven
Two of the most famous stories from Benedict's life involve attempts to kill him through poison—both of which he overcame through the power of the Cross.
When jealous monks at Vicovaro grew to resent Benedict's strict leadership, they attempted to poison his wine. But when Benedict made the Sign of the Cross over the cup, it shattered as though struck by a stone. Recognizing their treachery, Benedict calmly departed, saying, "May Almighty God have mercy on you, brothers. Why have you done this to me? Did I not tell you beforehand that my ways and yours would not agree?"
Later, an envious priest named Florentius sent Benedict a loaf of poisoned bread. But Benedict, aware of the deception through divine revelation, commanded a raven that regularly visited him to take the bread and carry it far away where no one could find it.
These stories illustrate why Benedict has been invoked for protection against poison, evil, and the works of the devil for over fifteen hundred years—and why the cup and the raven appear on every authentic St. Benedict Medal.
The Origin of the St. Benedict Medal
The medal that bears Benedict's name developed gradually over the centuries. Originally, devotion to St. Benedict centered on the cross—the instrument through which he worked so many of his miracles. Medals were eventually struck bearing Benedict's image on one side and a large cross on the other.
For centuries, mysterious Latin letters appeared around the cross on these medals, but their meaning had been lost to time. Then, around 1647, a manuscript dating from 1415 was discovered at the Benedictine Abbey of Metten in Bavaria. In this manuscript was an image of St. Benedict holding a staff ending in a cross, with scrolls containing the full Latin text that the mysterious letters represented—an ancient prayer of exorcism against Satan.
The Exorcism Prayer on the Medal
The reverse side of the St. Benedict Medal is dominated by a large cross. Inscribed on and around this cross are the initials of powerful Latin prayers:
On the vertical beam of the cross: C.S.S.M.L. Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux — "May the Holy Cross be my light"
On the horizontal beam: N.D.S.M.D. Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux — "Let not the dragon be my guide"
Around the margin of the medal: V.R.S.N.S.M.V. — S.M.Q.L.I.V.B. Vade Retro Satana! Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana! Sunt Mala Quae Libas. Ipse Venena Bibas! "Begone, Satan! Do not suggest to me your vanities! Evil are the things you offer. Drink your own poison!"
In the angles of the cross: C.S.P.B. Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti — "The Cross of our Holy Father Benedict"
Above the cross: PAX — "Peace," the ancient Benedictine motto
The front of the medal shows St. Benedict holding a cross in his right hand and his Rule for Monasteries in his left. On pedestals beside him are the cup (which shattered when he blessed it) and the raven (which carried away the poisoned bread). Around the edge are the Latin words: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur — "May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death."
Papal Approval
Pope Benedict XIV formally approved the medal on December 23, 1741, and again on March 12, 1742, granting it indulgences and formally recognizing its use for protection against evil. In 1880, the monks of Monte Cassino struck a special "Jubilee Medal" to commemorate the 1400th anniversary of St. Benedict's birth. This Jubilee design, blessed by Pope Pius IX with special indulgences, became the standard form of the medal still used today.
The St. Benedict Medal holds a unique distinction in the Church: it is the only medal that has its own special blessing and exorcism ritual in the Roman Ritual. This blessing, which any priest can perform, specifically invokes the power of God against "the attacks of the evil one."
The Catholic Church's Ministry of Exorcism
To understand why the St. Benedict Medal remains significant in the fight against evil, it helps to understand the Church's official ministry of exorcism.
Biblical Foundations
Jesus Christ Himself performed numerous exorcisms during His earthly ministry. The Gospels record Him casting out demons from the Gerasene demoniac (Mark 5:1-20), from a boy possessed by a mute spirit (Mark 9:14-29), and from many others. He also gave His disciples authority over unclean spirits (Matthew 10:1) and promised that those who believe would cast out demons in His name (Mark 16:17).
The early Church continued this ministry. Several Church Fathers, including Irenaeus, Tertullian, Cyprian, and Athanasius, wrote about exorcistic practices in their time. In the early centuries, exorcisms were performed by many Christians, not only clergy, as part of the broader struggle against evil.
The Rituale Romanum
By the medieval period, the authority to perform solemn exorcisms was restricted to priests and bishops who had received specific permission. In 1614, Pope Paul V promulgated the Rituale Romanum, which included De Exorcismis et Supplicationibus Quibusdam ("Of Exorcisms and Certain Supplications"). This text standardized the prayers and procedures for exorcism and remained in use, largely unchanged, for nearly four hundred years.
The rite includes direct commands to demons to depart in the name of Jesus Christ, the Litany of the Saints, Psalm 90, the Sign of the Cross, and the use of sacramentals such as holy water, the crucifix, and the relics of saints. It reflects the Church's unwavering belief in Christ's absolute authority over all demonic forces.
The 1999 Revision
After the Second Vatican Council, the rite of exorcism was the last portion of the Rituale Romanum to be revised. The updated version, published in 1999, modernized the language while preserving the essential elements of the ancient rite. It also emphasized the importance of distinguishing between genuine demonic possession and mental illness, requiring collaboration with medical and psychiatric professionals before proceeding with a major exorcism.
Today, only a priest with explicit permission from his diocesan bishop may perform a solemn exorcism. The bishop is the chief exorcist within his diocese and may grant this permission either for specific cases or as a standing faculty to a designated priest who serves as the diocese's exorcist.
Signs of Possession
The Church is cautious about identifying genuine demonic possession, recognizing that true cases are extremely rare. According to the Rituale Romanum and Vatican guidelines, signs that may indicate possession include: speaking or understanding languages the person has never learned; revealing knowledge of hidden or distant things they could not naturally know; displaying physical strength beyond their natural capacity; and showing violent aversion to sacred objects, holy water, the Cross, and the name of Jesus.
These signs must be consistent, unexplainable by natural causes, and carefully evaluated before any exorcism is considered. Many experienced exorcists report that only a tiny fraction of those who believe themselves to be possessed actually are—perhaps one in five thousand cases.
The St. Benedict Medal in Modern Exorcism Ministry
So what role does the St. Benedict Medal play in the work of today's exorcists?
Catholic exorcists report that sacramentals—blessed objects like medals, crucifixes, holy water, and blessed salt—play an important supporting role in the ministry of deliverance. While the power of exorcism ultimately comes from Christ Himself, working through the authority of His Church, sacramentals serve as tangible signs of faith and protection.
The St. Benedict Medal, with its ancient exorcism prayer inscribed in Latin, holds a special place among these sacramentals. Exorcists have noted that demons often react strongly to the presence of the medal and to the prayers it represents. This is not because the medal itself has magical power—that would be superstition—but because it represents the faith of the one who wears it, the intercession of St. Benedict, the blessing of the Church, and above all, the power of Christ and His Cross.
Fr. Gabriele Amorth, who served as the Vatican's chief exorcist from 1986 until his death in 2016 and performed thousands of exorcisms, wrote extensively about the importance of sacramentals in spiritual warfare. The St. Benedict Medal was among those he recommended.
In 1959, the Sacred Congregation of Rites granted permission for the St. Benedict Medal to be used in place of a relic of the True Cross when conferring the Blessing of St. Maur (a traditional Benedictine blessing for the sick). This recognition speaks to the special esteem in which the Church holds this medal.
How to Use the St. Benedict Medal
The St. Benedict Medal can be worn around the neck, attached to a rosary, placed in one's home, car, or place of work, or carried on one's person. There is no single prescribed method—the important thing is to use it with faith, trusting in the intercession of St. Benedict and the power of Christ.
When used devoutly, the medal becomes a constant reminder of our baptismal promises: our firm belief in God, our trust in the power of the Cross, and our rejection of Satan and all his works. It is a silent prayer for protection and a call for the intercession of one of the Church's greatest saints.
The medal should always be blessed by a priest. The special blessing for the St. Benedict Medal is found in the Roman Ritual and includes an exorcism prayer invoking God's protection "against the power and attacks of the evil one."
A Treasured Sacramental for Every Catholic Home
For over a thousand years, Catholics have turned to St. Benedict for protection against evil, temptation, and spiritual danger. His medal carries forward the victories he won against the devil through the power of the Cross—the same power that is available to every baptized Christian.
Whether you are drawn to the St. Benedict Medal for protection on your faith journey, for its rich history, or for its connection to the Church's ongoing ministry against evil, it remains one of the most powerful and beloved sacramentals in Catholic tradition.
At CatholicShop.com, we carry thousands of St. Benedict Medals in every style, size, and material—from simple devotional medals to fine gold and silver jewelry. We also offer a wide selection of Benedictine devotional items, including crucifixes, rosaries, and more. Browse our collection to find the perfect expression of this timeless devotion.
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