How Saint Benedict defeated the devil with the cross of Christ - How Saint Benedict inspired and the Jubilee Medal
The short answer is that the devil fears the Lord. When a person wears the St. Benedict Medal or St. Benedict Crucifix, it is a constant reminder for that person to always remember Christ, indeed an ongoing exorcism. The devil recoils at the mere mention of the name of Jesus Christ. Think of the faith and love that Senhor São Bento has professed throughout his life. Let's start with some examples of the miracles associated with Saint Benedict.
The first of the recorded miracles happened shortly after Bento graduated from college. His nurse, refusing to leave him, followed him to Enside where he lived at St Peter's Church. Her mistress, wanting to sift the wheat, borrowed a sieve and broke it. Seeing their extreme need, he picked up the pieces and through tears prayed for them. When he picked up the strainer, it looked like it had never been broken. God had bestowed his grace.
While he was serving as abbot of a monastery, a conspiracy against Benedict was formed. In order to get rid of the man of God, the monks poisoned his wine. When Benedict was offered the wine, he made the sign of the cross and blessed the wine. The glass immediately shattered. As Pope Gregory the Great wrote in his biography of Benedict XVI. reported, "...the chalice contained the potion of death, which could not bear the mark of life."
In another monastery, a priest envied Benedict XVI. to use his virtues, including his success, to lead more people to a better life. He sent Benedict poisoned bread. Knowing the bread was poisoned, Benedict gave the whole loaf to a crow, which came out every night to collect crumbs. He commanded the crow, in the name of Jesus Christ, to take the bread and leave it in a place where no one could find it. After several attempts and requests for bento, and much difficulty, the crow flew with the bread and returned hours later without it, in search of her usual ration of crumbs.
Later in his life, Benedict was summoned by a group of men struggling heavily with the weight of a stone needed to move the monastery they were building. Nothing they tried would move the stone. The brothers believed that the devil's weight was on him. Bento prayed over the stone and blessed it. So the brothers carried the stone as if weightless.
Of the miracles mentioned here, two are honored on the Medal of São Bento. Spend a few minutes with us to learn more about the São Bento Medal and the Happy Death Cross.
The Life of Saint Benedict
The man behind the miracles.
Benedict was born into a wealthy family in the Norcia region in AD 480. He dropped out of school as a young man because he despised the immoral tendencies he saw in the way people were encouraged to live by contemporary society. He became a hermit, living in a cave and surviving thanks to the kindness and care of a monk named Romanos. Over time, people came to know him and sought spiritual nourishment from him in exchange for the portions of food he gave them. Benedict was strengthened spiritually during his time as a hermit and was able to resist temptation.
When the abbot of a nearby monastery died, the monks of the abbey, after much persuasion, persuaded Benedict to become their abbot. As abbot, Benedict made them aware that they had strayed from a true path of holiness. Not wanting to reform, they conspired to kill him and so the miracle of the poisoned wine happened. After asking God's mercy and forgiveness for them, he left his monastery and returned to the desert and his solitary life. Nevertheless, he became known for his growing virtue, for the miracles that took place around him, and for the number of people drawn to serve the Lord by his example and teaching. As a result, he founded 12 monasteries.
Another attempt was made to poison Benedict, and again he was saved by the miraculous removal of a piece of bread meant to kill him. Expelled from the monastery, he settled in Monte Cassino. There he founded the Benedictine monastery, which took root and became the nucleus and crown of the church's monastic system. In Monte Cassino he wrote thethe blessing rulet. It is the guide for those committed to the monastic life. It has become the norm and is still used today.
Bento spent his life devoting himself more and more to Christ and calling others to join him, despite the world in which he lived. We invite you to read about the Medal of St. Benedict as well as the Happy Cross of Death, which commemorates his life and the circumstances of his death in 543 AD.
Medal of Saint Benedict
History of the Medal
Saint Benedict had a deep faith and devotion to the Cross which he passed on to succeeding generations of Benedictines. It was this devotion that inspired Christians to mint medals. On these medals, São Bento was often depicted holding a cross in one hand and the otherBenedict rulein the other. Over time the big letters around the cross on the back were added. The medal we know today is known as the Jubilee Medal and was awarded in 1880 under the supervision of the Monte Cassino monks to commemorate the 1,400th anniversary of the birth of Saint Benedict. The Jubilee Medal includes all of the features associated with or included in previous medals.
symbolism
At first glance, we immediately recognize that the São Bento Medal is full of images, letters and words. It is worth studying because every image that catches your eye has a meaning. Once explained, you will gain a full understanding of the medal, which makes it truly valuable, a spiritual treasure, literally.
Pedestals are on either side of Benedict. The pedestal on your right contains a glass of wine and the other a crow about to take flight. Both represent unsuccessful attempts to kill Benedict. This is our reminder that Christ will always come to the rescue of those who call on him.
The Latin words "Crux s patris Benedicti" are engraved in the area above the chalice and raven. They translate it as "The Cross of Our Holy Father Benedict" (CSPB).
The words are engraved on the edge of the medal: "Eius in obitu nostropraesentia muniamur!" which translates to "May we be strengthened by his presence at the hour of our death!" São Bento is considered the patron saint of happy death. Read below for more information about his blessed death.
Below Benedict are the letters SM Casino MDCCLXXX, indicating that the medal was awarded to the 1,400. anniversary of Benedict's death.
The reverse of the Jubilee Medal of Saint Benedict
The cross on the back of the medal bears the initials of a Latin prayer. "Crux sacra sti mihilux! Nanquam draco sit mihi dux!” translated as “May the Holy Cross be light! May the dragon never be my guide!" This is a constant exorcism prayer to protect us from Satan's evil. CSSMLNDSMD
In the spaces around the cross, the letters CSPB stand for Crux Sancti Patrisbenedicti, meaning The Cross of Our Holy Father Benedict.
Above the cross, the centenary's Benedictine motto is simply "Pax", "Peace".
The letters surrounding the edge of the medal are the initials of a Latin exorcism phrase: VRSNSMV - SMQLIVB, meaning "Vaderetro Santana!" Nanquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse Venenabibas! means: “Away with Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! Evil are the things you offer, drink your own poison." With these emphatic words in constant presence, Satan cannot even come close.
The cross of a happy death
How and when was a medal added to a cross/crucifix
The São Bento Medal is often seen in the center of a crucifix behind the head of Christ. This is known as "The Cross of a Happy Death". São Bento is the patron saint of a happy death, largely due to the circumstances of his own death. Six days before his death, he asked for his tomb (tomb) to be opened. Shortly thereafter, he fell ill and began to deteriorate. On the sixth day he asked to be taken to his oratory, where he received Holy Communion. Then, supported by his brothers, he raised his hands to heaven and died. He left this world and certainly honored those who honored him most the circumstances of a happier death.
prayer and blessings
The São Bento Medal is a sacrament. It can be blessed by any Ordiaconal priest. Here is a blessing suggestion.
V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
A. Who made heaven and earth?
In the name of God the Father Almighty, who made heaven and earth, the seas and everything in them, I exorcise these medals against the power and attacks of evil. May all who wear these medals reverently be blessed with health of mind and body. In the name of the Father + the Almighty, the Son + Jesus Christ our Lord, and the Holy Spirit + Paraclete, and in the love of the same Lord Jesus Christ, who will come on the last day to judge the living and the dead , and the world by fire .
A man.
Let us pray Almighty God, inexhaustible source of all goods, we humbly ask you, through the intercession of St. Benedict, to pour your blessings + on these medals. May you bless those who reverently and sincerely strive to do good deeds with health of soul and body, the grace of a holy life, and remission of temporary punishment for sin.
With the help of your merciful love, may they too resist the temptation of evil and strive to exercise true charity and justice towards all, so that one day they may appear sinless and holy in your eyes. We ask this through Christ our Lord.
A man.
The medals are then sprinkled with holy water.
Be sure to learn the prayers and exhortations inscribed on the medal...
May the Holy Cross shine! May the dragon never be my guide!
May we be strengthened by His presence at the hour of our death!
Out with Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities!
Paz.
Here is a prayer from Saint Benedict for those seeking faith:
Kind and Holy Father, grant you wisdom to discover you, intelligence to understand you, zeal to seek you, patience to wait for you, eyes to contemplate you, heart to reflect on you,and a life to proclaim you, by the power of the Spirit of Jesus our Lord. A man
Dear Saint Benedict, I thank God for showering you with His grace to love you above all things and for establishing a monastic rule that has helped so many of His children to live full and holy lives.On the cross of Jesus Christ, I ask you to stand up that God will protect me, my loved ones, my home, property, possessions and workplace by His holy blessings today and always, that we may never be separated from Jesus, Mary and the rest of society of all the blessed. Through his intercession we are delivered from temptations, spiritual oppression, physical ailments and infirmities. Protect us from drug and alcohol abuse, impurity and immorality, obnoxious companions and negative attitudes. In the name of Jesus we pray. A man.