According to many priests (especially exorcists), the St. Benedict Medal is one of the most powerful spiritual objects in the church to"repel evil." The medal has been used in exorcisms and worn by the faithful for hundreds of years. Should you wear a St. Benedict medal? Read this article to learn why you might want to consider it.
Who Was St. Benedict?
St. Benedict of Nursia, Italy (A.D. 480-543) was the twin brother of St. Scholastica. Theologians consider St. Benedict to be the"Father of Western Monasticism." His Rule came to be the basis of organization for the Franciscans, Dominicans, and other religious orders. Benedict had been living in a cave near Naples, Italy for three years as he developed his spirituality. One day, a group of monks came to him and asked him to be their abbot. He agreed but insisted on the monks maintaining a life of greater piety. Some of the monks in the order disliked Benedict's approach, so they hatched a plan to do away with him by poisoning his wine. Benedict, however, was miraculously saved after he prayed a blessing over the cup, and the cup shattered! He returned to his cave at Subiaco but was almost poisoned again, this time with poisoned bread. This time, he prayed a blessing over the bread, but a raven swept in and took the loaf away.
The History of the St. Benedict Medal
After Benedict's death, the Church came to invoke his intercession against evil (just as Benedict was saved miraculously from evil) and the St. Benedict medal is one of the most powerful objects used in exorcisms.
Evolution of the Medal
The St. Benedict Medal evolved over the centuries to become one of the most respected sacramentals of the Catholic Church. The medal's form and usage have gone through slight changes, but its core purpose has remained the same: a physical reminder of the Christian's spiritual combat against evil, a token of devotion to St. Benedict, and, according to many of the Church's exorcists, a powerful form of divine protection.
Early Christian Era
While the St. Benedict Medal itself did not exist in biblical times, its roots are deeply biblical. Its front bears the image of St. Benedict holding a cross, symbolizing the power of Christ's sacrifice and the faith in His triumph over evil - themes fundamental to Christianity from its inception. The reverse side carries significant inscriptions, including"Vade retro satana" ("Get behind me, Satan"), echoing Christ's rebuke of Peter in the Gospel of Mark (8:33): At this he turned around and, looking at his disciples, rebuked Peter and said"Get behind me, Satan. You are thinking not as God does, but as human beings do."
Early Middle Ages
The evolution into the form that we recognize today started in the Middle Ages. An early precursor to the medal was a cross, believed to have been owned by St. Benedict. The exact form and inscriptions varied, but the cross often bore the initials of certain Latin prayers, serving as a reminder of the Christian's continual struggle against evil and the call to live according to Christ's teachings.
Metten Abbey Discovery
The next major milestone in the evolution of the St. Benedict Medal took place in the early 17th century. A manuscript dating back to 1415 was discovered in Metten Abbey, a Benedictine monastery in Bavaria, Germany. This manuscript provided a detailed explanation of the inscriptions on the St. Benedict cross, most notably the abbreviation:"V.R.S.N.S.M.V - S.M.Q.L.I.V.B." This stands for"Vade retro satana, nunquam suade mihi vana - sunt mala quae libas, ipse venena bibas" ("Get behind me Satan, never suggest vain thoughts to me - the cup you offer is evil, drink your own poison").
Formal Approval
Following the discovery at Metten Abbey, the use of the medal spread, and the medal took on the form we recognize today. In 1741, Pope Benedict XIV approved the use and inscriptions of the St. Benedict Medal, promoting its pious use throughout the Church. Today, the St. Benedict Medal is revered as a sacramental, used for invoking spiritual protection and intercession from St. Benedict. Many Catholics wear the medal, display it at home, or carry it, often incorporated into rosaries or other religious items. The medal is also often affixed to the foundations of buildings or entrances to homes as a spiritual safeguard. In the face of life's spiritual challenges, the St. Benedict Medal serves as a silent prayer and testament of faith, embodying the believer's rejection of evil and steadfast commitment to Christ.
The Medal's Holy Design
The Front of the St. Benedict Medal
The front of the medal depicts St. Benedict holding a cross and his rule. The word PAX can be seen on the top, which means"peace." To one side of St. Benedict is a poisoned cup and a raven on the other - both references to a Benedictine hagiography - and above the cup are these words: Crux sancti patris Benedicti (The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict) Surrounding St. Benedict are the words: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur! ("May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death") This refers to St. Benedict being a Patron of a Happy Death (along with St. Joseph). 
The Back of the St. Benedict Medal
On the back of the St. Benedict medal is a cross with the letters C S S M L - N D S M D. These letters are actually the initials of these words:
Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Non draco sit mihi dux! ("May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord!") The larger letters, C S P B, are for these words: Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti ("The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict"). On the back of the St. Benedict medal are the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B, which are the initials of the Rite of Exorcism prayer: Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas! ("Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!")
Spiritual Benefits of Wearing a St. Benedict Medal
Dom Gueranger highlighted the positive effects of wearing a St. Benedict medal, which include:
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asking for inner peace/spiritual healing;
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asking peace between individuals or between nations of the world;
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curing bodily afflictions especially as protection against contagious diseases;
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destroying the effects of witchcraft and all other diabolical and haunting influences;
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healing those who are suffering from wounds or illness;
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obtaining the conversion of sinners, especially when they are in danger of death;
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offering protection against storms and lightning;
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protecting children from nightmares;
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protecting a mother and her children during childbirth;
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protecting animals infected with plague or other maladies;
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protecting fields infested by harmful insects;
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protecting or otherwise counter the effects of poison;
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protecting those persons who are tempted, deluded or tormented by evil spirits.
Not Just For Exorcists
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.
♥ See our extensive St. Benedict line which includes medals, bracelets, rosaries and more.
Wear these St. Benedict Bracelets bracelets for protection, style, and to always remind yourself that God has given you a mission to make the world a better place. Many of these special bracelets feature ten St. Benedict medals woven together with heavy paracord. Having ten medals also means that these bracelets can double as a way to pray the rosary. Also included is our exclusive St. Benedict Prayer Card, which features the powerful Benedictine prayer against the influence of evil, in both Latin and English. 