If you’ve ever looked on the walls of the sanctuary in Saint John the Baptist or on the rear wall of the nave in Immaculate Conception, you may have noticed the Saint Benedict Medal (see image below). Perhaps you have asked yourself, “What is this medal? And what does it mean?”
What is the Saint Benedict Medal?
The Saint Benedict medal is a powerful sacramental in the Catholic Church. It bears the image of Saint Benedict, a sixth-century monk known for his spiritual wisdom and contributions to monastic life.
The medal is rich in symbolism. Each part represents a particular aspect of Saint Benedict’s life or has a specific spiritual meaning.
The medal is a way to obtain God’s blessings and protection through the intercession of St. Benedict. Wearing it is a way to remind ourselves of our life in Christ and the promises of heaven. It is a form of prayer and yet another way we can incorporate God into our daily lives.
According to the Order of St. Benedict, “The medal is a prayer of exorcism against Satan, a prayer for strength in time of temptation, a prayer for peace among ourselves and among the nations of the world, a prayer that the Cross of Christ be our light and guide, a prayer of firm rejection of all that is evil, a prayer of petition that we may with Christian courage ‘walk in God’s ways, with the Gospel as our guide,’ as St. Benedict urges us.”
The St. Benedict Medal Explained by Fr. Boniface Hicks (8:08)
What does the Medal of Saint Benedict mean?
On the front of the medal:
- Saint Benedict’s image represents Saint Benedict as a powerful intercessor against evil and a source
of spiritual guidance. He holds the written Rule of Saint Benedict in one hand and a cross in the other. - On one side of Saint Benedict is a raven. On the other is a cup with a serpent emerging from it. This represents an incident in his life when he miraculously saved himself from poisoning.
- Above the cup reads: “Crux sancti patris Benedicti,” which means, “The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict.”
- Surrounding Saint Benedict are the words, “Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur!” which translates to, “May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death.”
On the reverse side of the medal:
- The Cross signifies Christ’s victory over sin and death through His crucifixion.
- The vertical arm of the cross bears the initials “C.S.S.M.L.,” which stands for “Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux” (“May the Holy Cross be my light”).
- The horizontal arm of the cross displays the initials “N.D.S.M.D.,” which stand for
“Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux”, or, “Let not the dragon be my guide.” This is a rejection of evil. - The larger letters surrounding the center cross, “C S P B”, stand for: Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti, which means, “The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict.”
- At the top of the medal is the word, “PAX” which means “peace.”
- Surrounding the back of the medal are the letters, V R S N S M V – S M Q L I V B. This symbolizes a Latin prayer for protection: “Vade Retro Satana! Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana!”. It translates to: “Begone, Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities!”
Though lay people and most priests are forbidden to conduct exorcisms, they are permitted to use the Saint Benedict medal to ward off evil. ― National Catholic Register
One is allowed to:
- wear the medal around the neck;
- attach it to one’s rosary;
- keep it in one’s pocket or purse;
- attach it to one’s keychain;
- affix it to one’s car or home;
- place it in the foundation of a building;
- affix it to the center of a crucifix, usually behind the corpus.
It is important to note we should not treat the medal of Saint Benedict as magic. Instead, we accept its graces due to our faith in Jesus Christ and the powerful intercessory prayers of Saint Benedict.
The Saint Benedict Medal is considered a powerful sacramental that carries spiritual significance and protection for those who wear or use it with faith.
It serves as a constant reminder of the presence of God, the victory of the Cross, and the intercession of Saint Benedict against evil.
