The Medal of Saint Benedict Sacramental
The Benedictine Medal. A Tiny Disc with Heavenly Muscle. A Spirited (and Spiritual) Guide to the Medal of Saint Benedict.
Origins? Not Just Monks and Mistletoe
The Medal of Saint Benedict didn’t fall from heaven already engraved and polished, though with what it represents, you might think so.
Its earliest roots trace back to medieval Europe, but the full form as we know it today began to take shape in the 17th century… with a bit of mystery, monastic sleuthing, and yes, exorcisms.
It all started when a group of Benedictine monks discovered in an old manuscript a series of strange letters arranged in a cross-like pattern. These weren’t just alphabet soup. They were powerful invocations: a kind of spiritual Morse code against evil.
The Clue in the Cross? The Secret Spellbook (That Wasn’t)
Let’s be honest. If you stumbled upon a cross with cryptic Latin initials like “C.S.P.B.” and “V.R.S.N.S.M.V.,” your first thought might be, “Is this a forgotten Harry Potter spell?”
But no, it’s something far better.
When Benedictine scholars investigated, they found that these letters were initials of Latin prayers and exorcism formulas, long attributed to Saint Benedict himself. These words had been used for centuries to ward off evil, illness, and all manner of diabolical disruptions.
They quickly did what any good Catholic would: made it into a medal.
The Jubilee Medal of Saint Benedict, officially approved by Pope Benedict XIV in 1742, is the version we use today.
The Design? More Than Just Fancy Latin
Let’s break it down… and yes, bring your Latin cheat sheet. This isn’t just decoration. Every symbol packs a spiritual punch.
Front of the Medal
At the center:
Saint Benedict himself, holding:
- In his right hand, a cross: symbol of salvation, faith, and spiritual power.
- In his left hand, the Rule of Saint Benedict—that little book that built Western civilization.
Beside him:
- A raven with a piece of poisoned bread: a nod to the time Benedict blessed away an assassination attempt via bird. (Move over, carrier pigeons.)
- A cup from which a serpent escapes: the poisoned wine episode, also foiled by blessing.
Below:
“EX S M CASINO MDCCCLXXX”
Translation: “From the holy mount of Cassino, 1880”: commemorating the 1400th anniversary of Benedict’s birth and the official standardization of the medal.
Back of the Medal
This is where it gets serious (and a little cryptic).
At the center: a cross with four sets of initials:
- C.S.P.B. – Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti
“The Cross of our Holy Father Benedict”
Around the vertical line of the cross:
- C.S.S.M.L. – Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux
“May the Holy Cross be my light”
Around the horizontal line:
- N.D.S.M.D. – Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux
“Let not the dragon be my guide”
Translation? “Let the Cross light my path, not the dragon’s shadow.”
In the four corners of the medal:
- V.R.S. – Vade Retro Satana
- N.S.M.V. – Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana
- S.M.Q.L. – Sunt Mala Quae Libas
- I.V.B. – Ipse Venena Bibas
Together, this ancient exorcism chant reads:
“Begone, Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities.
What you offer is evil.
Drink your own poison.”
(Which, let’s be honest, is the holy version of a mic drop.)
The Use? Not a Magic Charm, but a Prayer in Metal
First, let’s be clear: This is not a magical trinket.
It’s a sacramental: a sacred sign instituted by the Church to prepare us to receive grace and to sanctify our lives. Like holy water, scapulars, or a crucifix, the power is not in the object, but in the faith, prayers, and blessing attached to it.
The Medal of Saint Benedict is used to:
- Bless homes, cars, and even animals (yes, your cat can be under Benedictine protection)
- Bury in the foundations of buildings
- Wear for spiritual armor
- Place above doors or windows to keep out evil
- Use during deliverance prayers or spiritual warfare
- Pin discreetly to a toddler’s car seat (because toddlers are wild)
It’s often blessed with a special Benedictine blessing, which includes prayers of exorcism and protection. This is not your average “sprinkle-and-go” holy water situation. It’s a full-on spiritual anointing.
The Protection? Why Demons Don’t Like It
The medal has long been associated with powerful protection against:
- Temptation
- Curses
- Witchcraft
- Illness
- Diabolical disturbances
- Sudden storms (physical and emotional)
Stories from centuries of tradition report that houses have been spared from fire, illnesses have been healed, and spiritual oppression has lifted when the medal is used in faith.
Why is it so potent?
Because it’s rooted in Christ’s Cross, charged with Benedict’s intercession, and wrapped in prayers of exorcism. It’s not superstition—it’s spiritual solidarity with the Communion of Saints, the power of Christ, and the time-tested wisdom of one of the Church’s greatest monastics.
A Saint for the Skeptical and the Serious
Saint Benedict’s approach to the spiritual life is refreshingly practical. He doesn’t tell us to levitate or live on olives. He tells us to:
- Pray regularly
- Work faithfully
- Be humble
- Reject evil
- And keep a blessed medal on hand just in case the devil comes knocking.
The Medal of Saint Benedict is not for those who want to play dress-up with faith. It’s for those who want to wield prayer as protection and live under the banner of the Cross.
Closing Benediction and a Laugh
“Let the holy Cross be my light—
Not the dragon’s deceit or Satan’s slight.
With Benedict’s Rule, and grace on my side,
I’ll pray, I’ll work, I won’t let pride decide.
And if the devil offers poison or sin—
I’ll tell him straight: ‘Drink your own gin.’” 🐍🍷
Happy Feast of Saint Benedict!
May his medal guard your heart, mind, and home.
And if you don’t have one yet… what are you waiting for? There’s a raven somewhere who’d be happy to deliver it.
Shop tip
Medal of saint Benedict on Amazon
Daily Benedictine Prayer of Protection and Peace
(With Ancient Invocations of the Saint Benedict Medal)
✝︎ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Opening Invocation
O holy Cross of Christ,
be my Light today.
May the shadow of the dragon never fall upon me.
Let not the ancient deceiver be my guide,
but You, O Crucified Lord, my Way and my Strength.
✝︎ Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux –
May the Holy Cross be my light.
✝︎ Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux –
Let not the dragon be my guide.
Prayer for Protection and Discernment
O glorious Father Benedict,
faithful servant in the caves of silence,
builder of sacred order,
you who cast out demons with the sign of the Cross,
pray for me now.
When temptation whispers—
Vade Retro Satana –
Begone, Satan!
When vanity tempts—
Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana –
Never tempt me with your vanities.
When evil entices with honeyed lips—
Sunt Mala Quae Libas –
What you offer is evil.
Then I shall answer, as you did, O Benedict:
Ipse Venena Bibas –
Drink your own poison.
Seal me today with the sign of Christ’s victory.
Let His Cross be my compass and His mercy my shield.
Guard my thoughts, my words, and my deeds.
Grant me obedience without delay, humility without complaint,
and perseverance without fear.
Prayer of Offering and Work
O Lord, in the spirit of ora et labora,
I offer to You the work of my hands and the watchfulness of my heart.
Let my toil be prayer,
and my prayer be fruitful.
Sanctify my labors,
bless my solitude,
and lead me always into the peace of holy order.
Through the intercession of Saint Benedict,
guide me by the ancient path that leads to eternal life.
“Ut in omnibus glorificetur Deus.”
That in all things, God may be glorified. (Rule of Benedict, Ch. 57)
Closing Blessing
May the Cross of Christ drive far from me every evil.
May the intercession of Saint Benedict preserve me from snares seen and unseen.
May this day be steeped in grace,
guarded in humility,
and glowing with the light of God’s presence.
✝︎ In the name of the Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
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Let us pray for the protection,of Europe!
It has been a grace to walk this path with you today. May Saint Benedict’s peace guard your heart, and may Christ be your Light in every hour.
