St. Benedict Medal
The medal is used as a defense against evil and for assistance in the hour of death.
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
In the arms of the Cross are the initials C S S M L – N D S M D, which stand for the rhyme:
Crux sacra sit mihi lux!
“The Holy Cross be my light”
Nunquam draco sit mihi dux!
“May the dragon never be my guide!”
In the corners of the Cross are C S P B, which stand for the same words found on the front over the pedestals: Crux s. patris Benedicti (The Cross of our Holy Father Benedict).
Above the Cross is the word “Pax” (Peace), the Benedictine motto.
Surrounding the entire back of the medal are the initials to the words of the exorcism: V R S N S M V – S M Q L I V B
These are the word St. Benedict said after monks tried killing him. Once he realized they poisoned his drink, he said this:
V. R. S. (Vade Retro Satan):
“Get away, Satan”
N. S. M. V. (Not Suade Mihi Vana):
“Never tempt me with your vanities!”
S. M. Q. L. (Sunt Mala Quae Libas):
“What you offer me is evil.”
I. V. B. (Ipse Venena Bibas):
“Drink the poison yourself!”
Many Catholic bookstores sell Benedictine medals if you do not own one. Be sure a priest blesses it!
Exorcism & Blessing of the Medal of St. Benedict
Priest: Our help is in the name of the Lord.
Response: Who made heaven and earth.
Priest: In the name of God the Father ♱ Almighty, Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, I exorcise these medals against the power and attacks of the evil one. May all who use these medals devoutly be blessed with health of soul and body. In the name of the Father ♱ Almighty, of His Son ♱ Jesus Christ our Lord, and of the Holy ♱ Spirit the Paraclete, and in the love of the same Lord Jesus Christ Who will come on the last day to judge the living and the dead.
Response: Amen.
Priest: Let us pray. Almighty God, the boundless Source of all good things, we humbly ask that, through the intercession of St. Benedict, Thou pourest out Thy blessings ♱ upon these medals. May those who use them devoutly and earnestly strive to perform goods works be blessed by Thee with health of soul and body, the grace of a holy death, and remission of temporal punishment due to sin. May they also, with the help of Thy merciful love, resist the temptations of the evil one and strive to exercise true charity and justice toward all, so that one day they may appear sinless and holy in Thy sight. This we ask through Christ our Lord.
Response: Amen.
The medals are then sprinkled with holy water.