Saint Benedict: The Monk Who Shaped a Legacy and His Powerful Medal
Picture a young man in a bustling, chaotic city, surrounded by temptation and turmoil, choosing instead a life of solitude, prayer, and purpose. That’s the story of Saint Benedict of Nursia, a 5th-century figure whose life transformed the course of Christian history. Known as the father of Western monasticism, his legacy lives on not only through his teachings but also through the Saint Benedict Medal, a cherished sacramental that carries deep spiritual meaning. Let’s explore Benedict’s inspiring journey and the significance of his medal, a symbol of protection and faith for millions.
Born around 480 AD in Nursia, Italy, Benedict was raised in a world where the Roman Empire was crumbling. Sent to Rome for studies, he was shocked by the city’s moral decline. Disillusioned, he made a bold choice: he left behind wealth and comfort to seek God in solitude. At around age 20, Benedict retreated to a cave in Subiaco, living as a hermit. For three years, he sought God in solitude, wrestling with the temptations that followed him.
According to the accounts of Pope Gregory the Great, while living in the cave, Saint Benedict was assailed by a powerful temptation of the flesh, specifically a vivid and lustful memory of a woman he had once seen. This temptation was so intense that he felt almost overcome and was contemplating leaving his solitude.
However, with the help of divine grace, he regained his strength and, seeing a thicket of sharp briars and nettles nearby, stripped off his clothing and threw himself into the thorn bush. He rolled and tossed within it for a long time until his body was severely lacerated. This act of self-mortification, where he turned the pain of his physical wounds into a means of curing the wounds of his soul, is said to have freed him from that particular temptation forever.
Saint Benedict faced two notable attempts on his life by poisoning, both of which are central to his legendary story and are symbolized in religious art and the Saint Benedict Medal.
The first attempt occurred when Benedict was persuaded to become the abbot of a monastery near Subiaco, despite knowing the monks’ lifestyle differed from his own strict ideals. After he began reforming their practices, some monks became envious and conspired to poison him. They brought him a cup of wine laced with poison. When Benedict blessed the cup, it shattered miraculously, saving his life. This event is often depicted with a chipped chalice. The second attempt involved a jealous priest named Florentius, who tried to poison Benedict with a loaf of bread soaked in poison.
Benedict, aware of the danger through prophetic insight, instructed a raven that often visited him to take the bread away. The raven flew off with the loaf, preventing Benedict from consuming it. This incident is symbolized by a raven in depictions of Saint Benedict. Following these attempts, Benedict left the area to avoid further temptations.
His cave days sparked a bigger vision. He founded monasteries, including Monte Cassino, and wrote the Rule of Saint Benedict, a guide blending prayer, work, and discipline.
That 1,500-year-old Rule still shapes monastic life and beyond, emphasizing balance and humility. Over 300 Benedictine monasteries worldwide still follow it today.
The Saint Benedict Medal captures his legacy. Born from his stories of overcoming evil, it’s a small but potent sacramental. One side shows Benedict with a cross and his Rule, inscribed with Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur (“May his presence strengthen us at the hour of our death”).
The reverse side of the medal is densely symbolic. It features a cross with the initials C S S M L – N D S M D, which stand for the Latin prayer “Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux! Non Draco Dit Mihi Dux!” (May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my guide!). Surrounding this cross are the initials V R S N S M V – S M Q L I V B, which correspond to the 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!). The word “PAX” (peace) is located at the top.
The meaning of the letters on the medal was lost for centuries until a 1415 manuscript was discovered at the Abbey of Metten in Bavaria, which explained their connection to the exorcism prayer.
The medal’s design was officially approved by Pope Benedict XIV in 1742, and the most popular version, the Jubilee Medal, was struck in 1880 to commemorate the 1400th anniversary of Saint Benedict’s birth.
It is believed to offer protection against evil, curses, vice, and disease, and is also associated with safe delivery and conversion. The medal can be worn on a chain, carried in a pocket, placed in a vehicle or home, or incorporated into a rosary or scapular. While it does not need to be blessed by a priest, it is recommended for enhanced protection.
The medal is considered a sacramental, and its power comes from the merits of Christ, the prayers of St. Benedict, the blessing of the Church, and the faithful’s disposition.
