The St. Benedict Medal

Benedict of Nursia was born in Italy around the year 480. As a young man, he was sent to study in Rome, but he was disturbed by the corruption and worldliness he found there. He left the city to live as a hermit in a cave near Subiaco, seeking God in silence and prayer.

Over time, other men gathered around him. Benedict became their spiritual father and eventually founded twelve monasteries. He wrote a short guide to monastic life called the Rule of St. Benedict — a book still followed by monks and nuns today, more than fifteen hundred years later.

Benedict's rule was built on a simple idea: Ora et labora — “Pray and work.” He taught his monks to seek God in prayer, in Scripture, in work, and in the ordinary routines of daily life. He is honored as the patron saint of Europe and of those who face temptation.

Tradition holds that Benedict was given a special gift of prayer against evil — that he overcame temptation and, through Christ, broke the power of the devil. That gift is remembered in the medal that bears his name.

No. This distinction is extremely important.

The St. Benedict Medal is not a Catholic version of a lucky charm. The Catholic faith condemns superstition — the idea that an object possesses some magical power independent of God. The medal points beyond itself.

Think about a wedding ring. The ring does not create a marriage. The metal itself does not love your spouse. But the ring represents something real and can remind the person wearing it of promises, love, sacrifice and faithfulness. A crucifix works similarly. Christians don't believe wood or metal saves us. Jesus Christ saves us. The crucifix reminds us of Him and of what He did for us.

The St. Benedict Medal is another physical reminder. It reminds us of the Cross. And the Cross always points us toward Jesus Christ.

The Catholic Church uses the word sacramental for certain sacred signs and devotional objects that help prepare us to receive God's grace and live our faith more deeply.

Sacramentals are different from the seven Sacraments instituted by Christ. A medal does not replace Baptism. It does not replace Confession. It does not replace the Eucharist. And it certainly does not replace a relationship with Jesus Christ.

Instead, sacramentals help direct our attention toward God and remind us to live the faith we profess.

The St. Benedict Medal is rich in symbolism. On the front is an image of St. Benedict holding a cross and a book (the Rule). On the back is a cross surrounded by the letters that form a prayer of exorcism and blessing.

The most important symbol is the Cross. The medal is sometimes called the “Cross-medal of happy deaths,” because St. Benedict is often invoked for a holy and peaceful death. The cross on the medal reminds us that Christ's death conquered death itself.

Around the edge of the medal and on the cross, you will see a series of abbreviated Latin letters. Each is the first letter of a word in a prayer. Together, they ask for God's protection against evil and for the grace of a holy life.

Read together, the letters are a prayer: May the Holy Cross be my light. Let not the dragon be my guide. Step back, Satan. Never tempt me with vain things. What you offer is evil — you yourself drink the poison.

This is not a spell. It is a prayer — a confident declaration that the Cross of Christ is stronger than any evil, and that the devil has no power over those who belong to Jesus.

The medal's prayer is rooted in Scripture. From the beginning, the Cross has been the sign of God's victory over evil and death.

A Catholic might wear one for many reasons. It can be a reminder to pray. A reminder to resist temptation. A reminder of the Cross. A reminder that Christ has conquered evil. A reminder to trust God's protection when life becomes difficult.

And sometimes it becomes something even simpler: a reminder that you are not fighting your battles alone. Every time your hand touches the medal, it can become an invitation: turn your heart back toward the Cross. Pray. Trust. Resist evil. Ask St. Benedict to pray for you. And follow Christ.

No. Someone who is exploring Christianity or considering becoming Catholic can certainly wear a St. Benedict Medal. In fact, it can become a simple invitation to prayer. You don't have to understand every Catholic teaching before beginning to ask God to lead you.

You can simply pray: “Jesus, if the Catholic faith is where You are leading me, show me. Give me the courage to follow the truth wherever it leads. Protect me from evil, and help me trust in Your Cross.” That is a beautiful place to begin.

Catholics traditionally have religious medals blessed by a Catholic priest or deacon. There is a special blessing for the St. Benedict Medal that includes prayers of exorcism and consecration. The blessing does not turn the medal into a magical object. Rather, the blessing dedicates the object to sacred use and asks God to bless the person who uses it faithfully.

If you have a St. Benedict Medal that has never been blessed, simply bring it with you to a Catholic parish and ask a priest or deacon if he would bless it. Don't worry if you aren't Catholic. Just tell him you're learning about the faith. He'll understand.

If you're wearing a St. Benedict Medal, you don't need an elaborate prayer. The prayer of the medal itself is a wonderful place to start:

Then speak to Jesus. Tell Him what you're afraid of. Tell Him where you've failed. Tell Him what you don't understand. Ask Him for forgiveness. Ask Him for faith. Ask Him to protect you from evil. And then be willing to follow where He leads.

The St. Benedict Medal isn't really about jewelry. It isn't ultimately even about the medal. It points toward something much bigger. The Cross points toward Christ. Christ points us toward the Father. And through Christ, we are invited into a life of grace — through faith, repentance, Baptism, the Eucharist, Confession, prayer, and life within His Church.

So if someone gives you a St. Benedict Medal, don't simply put it in a drawer. Look at it. Learn what the letters mean. Wear it if you wish. And let that little piece of metal ask you a much bigger question: Where is God calling you?