Saint Benedict Medal: Meaning, Symbols, History & Uses
The Saint Benedict Medal is one of the most recognizable sacramentals in the Catholic Church. At first glance, however, it can be difficult to understand. Its two sides are crowded with a saint, a cross, a raven, a cup, mysterious letters, and Latin inscriptions.
Each element has meaning.
The medal is rooted above all in faith in Jesus Christ and the power of His Cross. Its prayers ask God for help in resisting evil and temptation, invoke the intercession of St. Benedict, and call the Christian back to a life ordered toward Christ.
It is important to begin with one distinction: the Saint Benedict Medal is not a charm or talisman. Catholics do not believe that the metal itself possesses magical power. Like other sacramentals, it is meant to lead the person using it toward prayer, faith, and greater reliance on God.
THE MEDAL AT A GLANCE
What Is the Saint Benedict Medal?
The Saint Benedict Medal is a Catholic sacramental associated with St. Benedict of Nursia and devotion to the Cross of Christ. One side depicts St. Benedict and symbols from traditional accounts of his life. The other contains a Cross and the initials of Latin prayers asking that the Cross guide us and that evil be rejected.
The medal may be worn, carried, attached to a Rosary, or kept in a home or car. There is no prescribed way it must be used. Its purpose is devotional: to remind us of Christ, encourage prayer, and seek God's blessing through the intercession of St. Benedict.
THE SAINT BEHIND THE MEDAL
Who Was St. Benedict?
St. Benedict of Nursia lived around the turn of the sixth century and became one of the most influential figures in Western Christianity.
After withdrawing from the distractions of worldly life to seek God in prayer, Benedict eventually gathered communities of monks around him. His Rule of St. Benedict offered a wise and balanced pattern for monastic life centered on prayer, work, obedience, humility, and life in community.
The influence of Benedict and the monasteries that followed his Rule spread far beyond monastery walls. Pope Benedict XVI described St. Benedict's life and work as having a fundamental influence on the development of European civilization and culture. In 1964, Pope St. Paul VI declared him a Patron of Europe.
Our principal early account of St. Benedict's life comes from the Dialogues of Pope St. Gregory the Great, written only a few decades after Benedict's death.
And one symbol appears repeatedly in those accounts: the Cross.
Benedict had a profound devotion to Christ and frequently made the Sign of the Cross in moments of trial. That association between St. Benedict and the Cross eventually became central to the medal that bears his name.
READING THE FRONT
What Does the Front of the Saint Benedict Medal Mean?
The familiar Jubilee Medal places an image of St. Benedict at its center. Each surrounding symbol points toward some aspect of his life and spirituality.
The Cross
In his right hand, Benedict holds a Cross. This is arguably the most important symbol on the entire medal. The devotion is not ultimately centered on Benedict himself, but on Jesus Christ and His victory through the Cross.
The Rule
In his left hand, Benedict holds the Rule for Monasteries, a practical school of Christian discipleship built around seeking God, listening to Him, practicing humility, and living charitably with others.
The Poisoned Cup
St. Gregory the Great recounts a traditional episode in which men attempted to poison Benedict's drink. Benedict made the Sign of the Cross over the cup, and it shattered.
The Raven
Another traditional account recorded by St. Gregory tells of poisoned bread sent to Benedict by an enemy. Benedict instructed a raven he regularly fed to carry the dangerous loaf away.
AROUND ST. BENEDICT
Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur
The prayer asks that we may be strengthened by St. Benedict's presence at the hour of our death. Benedictines have traditionally invoked St. Benedict as a patron for a holy death.
DECODING THE BACK
What Do the Letters on the Saint Benedict Medal Mean?
The reverse can appear almost like a code. The letters are actually initials for Latin prayers centered on the Cross and the rejection of evil.
Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti
The Cross of our Holy Father Benedict
Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux
May the Holy Cross be my light.
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux
May the dragon not be my guide.
May the Cross of Christ be my light,
and may evil never become my guide.
Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana
A rejection of Satan and his empty promises.
Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas
The words reject what evil offers and refuse its poison.
Peace
The back of the medal contains strong words rejecting evil, but its destination is not fear. It is peace.
The initials form a Latin prayer rejecting Satan and evil. This should not be confused with the Church's solemn rite of exorcism, which is something entirely different and is reserved to a priest specifically authorized by his bishop.
A DEVOTION THAT DEVELOPED OVER TIME
Where Did the Saint Benedict Medal Come From?
There is no known date for the first Saint Benedict Medal. Its familiar form developed gradually from Benedictine devotion to St. Benedict, his association with the Cross, later prayers, and centuries of Catholic devotional practice.
A Medieval Manuscript
A manuscript later found at the Abbey of Metten contained the prayer that helped explain the mysterious initials associated with the Cross of St. Benedict.
The Letters Are Explained
Monks at Metten in Bavaria discovered the manuscript, helping recover the meaning of letters whose significance had been forgotten.
The Jubilee Medal
The monks of Montecassino commissioned the familiar Jubilee Medal for the celebration of what was then observed as the 1,400th anniversary of St. Benedict's birth. Its design came from Beuron.
The medal was not handed down intact from St. Benedict himself. Its Christian meaning does not depend upon inventing a more dramatic origin story than the historical evidence supports.
CATHOLIC SACRAMENTALS
Is the Saint Benedict Medal a Sacramental?
Yes. And understanding the word sacramental is essential to understanding the medal correctly.
The Catechism describes sacramentals as sacred signs instituted by the Church that prepare us to receive grace and help sanctify the circumstances of Christian life.
Sacramentals are different from the seven sacraments. They do not confer grace in the same way the sacraments do. Rather, through the prayer of the Church, they dispose us to receive God's grace and cooperate with it.
A sacramental is not a charm.
We do not place our trust in the medal. We place our trust in God. The medal helps turn our hearts and minds toward Him.
A CAREFUL CATHOLIC ANSWER
What Does the Saint Benedict Medal Protect You From?
This question is commonly asked, and it deserves a careful answer.
Catholic tradition has long associated the Saint Benedict Medal with prayers for protection from evil, temptation, and spiritual danger. But Catholics do not believe that the object itself creates an invisible protective force around the person wearing it.
Instead, the medal contains and represents prayers for God's protection, for strength against temptation, for rejection of evil, for the peace of Christ, and for the intercession of St. Benedict.
The Christian does not trust the medal instead of God.
The medal reminds the Christian to trust God.
BLESSING THE MEDAL
Does a Saint Benedict Medal Need to Be Blessed?
You may own or wear a Saint Benedict Medal that has not yet been blessed. There is no rule requiring a medal to be blessed before you are permitted to wear it.
But when a medal is going to be used devotionally as a sacramental, having it blessed is a beautiful and fitting practice.
And you do not need to find a Benedictine monk to do it. A Saint Benedict Medal may legitimately be blessed by any Catholic priest or deacon.
The traditional blessing asks God, through the intercession of St. Benedict, to bless those who use the medal devoutly and help them resist temptation, grow in holiness, and practice charity and justice.
NOTICE THE EMPHASIS
Not on possessing an object.
On living a holy life.
DEVOTIONAL USE
How Do Catholics Use the Saint Benedict Medal?
There is no single prescribed way to use it. Catholics commonly wear the medal on a necklace or bracelet, attach one to a Rosary, keep one in a pocket or purse, place one in a car, incorporate one into a crucifix, or keep one in the home as a reminder of prayer and God's presence.
Benedictine tradition has even included placing medals within homes, buildings, and places of work.
What matters more than location is intent. A medal hanging unnoticed from a rearview mirror is not spiritually superior to one carried quietly in a pocket. The purpose is to help direct the person using it toward Christ.
Let the Cross be my light.
Reject what leads me away from God.
Seek peace.
Follow Christ.
THE LARGER CHRISTIAN VISION
More Than a Prayer Against Evil
Because the Saint Benedict Medal contains such striking language about Satan and poison, it is easy to focus almost exclusively on spiritual warfare.
But that can obscure something beautiful about the medal.
the Cross of Christ over evil,
the Gospel over temptation,
peace over fear,
and faithful discipleship over superstition.
St. Benedict's spirituality was not preoccupied with darkness. His Rule is deeply practical. Pray. Work. Listen. Practice humility. Welcome others. Live peacefully in community. Seek God.
The medal makes the most sense when understood within that larger Christian vision.
SAINT BENEDICT DEVOTION IN THE HOME
Sacramentals in Ordinary Life
A crucifix above a doorway. A medal carried in a pocket. A Rosary beside the bed. These objects cannot pray or believe for us, but they can interrupt forgetfulness and remind us toward Whom our lives are meant to be directed.
For the Home
Our St. Benedict Home Blessing Door Hanger incorporates this ancient Catholic symbol into a simple piece designed for the home.
Explore the Home Blessing → 02Centered on the Cross
The Petite St. Benedict Crucifix brings together the image of the Crucified Christ and the familiar Saint Benedict Medal.
View the Crucifix →COMMON QUESTIONS
Saint Benedict Medal FAQ
What does Vade Retro Satana mean?
Vade retro Satana means essentially “Begone, Satan” or “Step back, Satan.” It begins the Latin prayer represented by the initials around the reverse of the Saint Benedict Medal.
Does the Saint Benedict Medal protect you from evil?
Catholics use the medal while asking God for protection from evil and temptation through the intercession of St. Benedict. The medal does not possess independent or magical power.
Does the Saint Benedict Medal have to be blessed?
No blessing is required simply to own or wear the medal. However, having it blessed is appropriate when it will be used as a Catholic sacramental.
Who can bless a Saint Benedict Medal?
A Catholic priest or deacon may bless the medal. He does not have to be a Benedictine.
Can you put a Saint Benedict Medal on a Rosary?
Yes. Attaching the medal to a Rosary is one of the traditional ways Catholics use it devotionally.
Which side of the Saint Benedict Medal should face outward?
There is no prescribed side that must face outward. Both sides contain important Christian symbolism and prayers.
Is the Saint Benedict Medal an exorcism medal?
The reverse includes the initials of a Latin prayer rejecting Satan and evil, so it is often described as containing a prayer of exorcism. That does not mean wearing the medal is equivalent to the Church's solemn rite of exorcism.
A saint. A Rule. A raven. A broken cup. A Cross. A prayer rejecting evil. And finally: Peace.
The meaning of the Saint Benedict Medal is not that a Catholic can wear a medal and no longer struggle with temptation, suffering, or fear.
Its invitation is something more demanding and more hopeful:
Look again to Christ. Let His Cross be your light. Reject what leads you away from Him. And continue walking toward God.
SOURCES & FURTHER READING
Benedictine Confederation: The Medal of Saint Benedict
Catechism of the Catholic Church: Sacramentals
Pope Benedict XVI: General Audience on St. Benedict of Nursia
My entire family has been wearing the Saint Benedict medal since the beginning of the pandemic, my husband is a physician working at one of the most busiest hospitals in New York, I have a toddler that puts everything in his mouth. We travel a lot. We never got sick, never tested positive for COVID. We pray to Saint Benedict every night, he’s protecting us.
Dear’s I believe we are one in Christ, Iam an Orthodox Christian , can I wear the medal of St, Benedict ? actually today Iam wearing it and I believe in his holiness.
I’m of Church of England faith . I have been through some traumatic times recently and a friend of mine bought me one of these.
Is it still ok for me to wear it if I’m not a catholic
I am an oblate of a Benedictine Abbey. A couple of years ago, we had a terrible tornado in our town. I prayed to St. Benedict that my home and neighborhood would not be touched and they were not. I credit the prayers of St. Benedict
I was in a serious accident and was left with an extremely server brain injury. I came through and have been wearing the cross ever sense. And each day I keep getting more improved and my prayers seem to be getting heard more sense wearing the cross. I am thankful for all of the answers to my prayers.
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