St. Benedict lived in the sixth century (480-547). He was born in a small town north of Rome, and he went to Rome for his education. Before long he abandoned his studies and lived as a hermit for several years at a place called Subiaco, where in time he acquired a reputation for holiness and miracles.
Founder of monastic communities
Attracting many followers, Benedict established monastic communities at Subiaco, Terracina, and Monte Cassino. It was at Monte Cassino that he wrote a Rule which combined moderation with fidelity to the best traditions in Christian monasticism. During the following centuries, his monastic way of life spread throughout Europe, and Benedictine monasteries and convents became the principal centers of prayer, culture, and education.
There were many great monastic founders who came before St. Benedict, but none had the profound effect on western civilization that he did. He built on their foundation, but he built in such a way that future generations would find the strength they needed to go forward into the future and literally keep the civilization of their day alive.
Patron of Europe
Saint Benedict evangelized Europe during the first Medieval Age.
He lived in a time when the Roman Empire was continuing to crumble. There were invasions from the tribes of the north into Roman Italy. As society and families were crumbling around him, he established monasteries as stable spiritual families in which to live and from which they would minister to the world. Their commitment of "stability" enabled them to stay with the monastery and with the monks as part of the house and family of Christ.
Benedictine monasteries also kept civilization alive in Europe during the Dark Ages. Not only did they nourish the intellectual arts of learning, they also promoted the art of farming during an era of environmental crises caused by terribly inclement weather.
Furthermore, Benedict's monasteries were often the center of villages and towns, and so they provided a semblance of orderly, civilized life.
The Benedictine monasteries of the past still give us a model of how celibate monks and nuns, as well as lay associates, can live in a countercultural way that will give courage and hope to the whole of society.
Benedictine Spirituality
Benedictine Spirituality, and the Order of St. Benedict, is based on listening, prayer and work:
"Listen carefully, my son, to the Master's instructions, and attend to them with the ear of your heart. This is advice from a father who loves you; welcome it, and faithfully put it into practice. The labor of obedience will bring you back to him from whom you had drifted through the sloth of disobedience. This message of mine is for all, and armed with the strong and noble weapons of obedience to do battle for the true king, Christ the Lord." (the Rule of St. Benedict, Prologue, verses 1-3)
For the entire Holy Rule of St. Benedict, go to:
http://www.ccel.org/b/benedict/rule2/rule.html
A prayer to St. Benedict
by the director of Oblates at Monastery Immaculate Conception, Ferdinand, Indiana:
"Raise up in your Church, O Lord, the spirit which with our Holy Father St. Benedict was animated; that filled with the same Spirit, each one and all of us, may study to love what Benedict loved and practice what He taught. Teach us loving and persevering obedience to you, Lord, that in our day, the people dedicated to your service and service to one another may increase both in holiness and in number. Amen."
Click here for a prayer from Terry Modica's book, Daily Prayers with the Saints for the New Millennium.
| The Medal or Cross of Saint Benedict |
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On the face of the medal is the image of Saint Benedict. In his right hand he holds the cross to remind us of the zealous work of evangelization.
In his left hand is his Rule for Monasteries, which could be summed up with these words from the Prologue: "Walk in God's ways, with the Gospel as our guide."
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!).
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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!).
Above the cross is the word pax (peace), the Benedictine motto. Around the margin are, the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B, initials for a Latin prayer of exorcism: 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!) |
These are powerful physical prayers that you can wear to ward off spiritual attack. They are not talismans or charms, nor are they superstitious or magic, nor do they require a particular recital of prayers to be effective. Wearing it devoutly is itself a continual silent prayer. The purpose of using the medal is to call down God's blessing and protection wherever we are, through the intercession of St. Benedict. It a constant reminder of our dignity as followers of Christ. It is a prayer against Satan, a prayer for strength in times 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 for a peaceful death in the Lord, and 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. It reminds us of the need to take up our crosses daily and "follow the true King, Christ our Lord" and thus learn "to share with patience in the sufferings of Christ so that we may one day share in his heavenly kingdom", as St. Benedict urges us in the Prologue of his Rule.
I had no idea how powerful St. Benedict's intercession was until I lost my medal and I started getting attacked spiritually in my job at the church. It stopped the day I replaced my medal. ~ Kathleen Ellertson
St. Benedict has helped Good News Ministries. We endured a period of nearly two years of unusual, continual breakdowns in computer equipment, Internet servers, website hosting, and related technological equipment, until I obtained St. Benedict's medal and used the prayer for protection. His holy card and medal remain on or near my computer desk at all times now. ~ Terry Modica
It's important to have your medal blessed properly with the prayer of exorcism by a Benedictine priest. Benedictine priests say that the blessing is the special charism of the medal. If you do not have a monastery nearby, you can order them online:
http://www.ihomm.org/jubilee.html
See http://www.osb.org/gen/medal.html
To order medals or Benedictine crucifixes or books about St. Benedict, please go to
For more information on the Order of St. Benedict, go to:
http://www.osb.org/
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