This Unique and Large St. Benedict Medal is made in Italy with a unique design incorporating two different pieces of metal. The border and jump ring of the medal is plated in 18K gold, while the St. Benedict insert is silver oxidized - a unique silver plating process that only the Italians have mastered - adding depth and a 3-dimensional relief to the already beautiful detail. This large, heavy medal is die-cast in Italy for exceptional detail. Made by skilled master craftsmen in Italy, it measures 1 1/2 in. including cast loop in the vertical direction, and 1-1/4 inch in diameter / width. The inscription at the bottom indicates that this beautiful design originated at the Bonaeren Benedictine Monastery in Buenos Aires, Argentina in 1994.
The St. Benedict medal is one of just a few powerful recognized sacramentals of the Catholic Church, especially when properly blessed. It offers strong protection against evil, and from vices, such as drunkenness. 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.
Rule and Raven
In St. Benedict's left hand is his Rule for Monasteries that could well be summed up exhorting us to "walk in God's ways, with the Gospel as our guide."
On a pedestal to the right of St. Benedict is the poisoned cup, shattered when he made the sign of the cross over it. On a pedestal to the left is a raven about to carry away a loaf of poisoned bread that a jealous enemy had sent to St. Benedict.
C. S. P. B.
Above the cup and the raven are the Latin words: Crux s. patris Benedicti (The Cross of our holy father Benedict). On the margin of the medal, encircling the figure of Benedict, are the Latin words: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur! (May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death!). Benedictines have always regarded St. Benedict as a special patron of a happy death. He himself died in the chapel at Montecassino while standing with his arms raised up to heaven, supported by the brothers of the monastery, shortly after St. Benedict had received Holy Communion.
Reverse Side of the Medal
[reverse]Crux mihi lux
On the back of the medal, the cross is dominant. On the arms of the cross are the initial letters of a rhythmic Latin prayer: Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Nunquam draco sit mihi dux! (May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my guide!).
In the angles of the cross, the letters C S P B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti (The cross of our holy father Benedict).
Peace
Above the cross is the word pax (peace), that has been a Benedictine motto for centuries. Around the margin of the back of the medal, the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B are the initial letters, as mentioned above, of a Latin prayer of exorcism against Satan: 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!)
Visit http://www.osb.org/gen/medal.html for more details, including the proper prescribed Benedictine blessing which should be performed on these medals by a Priest.
