From the Parochial Vicar' Desk

7/17/2022

 My dear friends, this past Tuesday, the Church celebrated the memorial of St. Benedict of Nursia. Honestly, somethings have always intrigued me about this Saint. First, many people pray for his intercession for protection against evil, and rightly so. The Saint Benedict medal is known to be a very powerful sacramental for protection. Secondly, he predates St. Francis of Assisi by about 700 years, being born around the year 480. During his life he was able to establish twelve monasteries, and he was able to bring stability and a sense of organization to monastic life at an early time in the Church’s history. This didn’t happen without challenges and many difficulties. He often had to fight off evil temptations from the devil, and in one event, he was protected from poison. According to stories, Benedict was quite strict in regards to prayer, penance, and fasting. There was a plot amongst a group of monks to end his life. Miraculously, he was able to drink from a poisoned cup and he survived unharmed. With that said, there were many who genuinely were attracted to Benedict and his holiness, and became members of his community. They were dedicated to living in a secluded community, a life of prayer, fasting, manual work, and above all- to love and serve God.

 Now in terms of the Medal of Saint Benedict. It was first cast in the 1800’s at the Monastery of Monte Casino (which Benedict established and where he is now laid to rest) to commemorate the 14^th centenary anniversary of his birth, although many of the symbols and lettering on the medal date to much earlier than that. On the front of the medal, we see the image of St. Benedict, with a chalice to one side, and a raven on the other. In Benedict’s hands is a scroll. The words are in Latin, but the translation is “Cross of the Holy Father Benedict. May we at our death be fortified by his presence.”

 On the back, the initials on the cross in the center are , “Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux — Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux (Translated: The Holy Cross be my light — Let not the dragon be my guide) The circles by the four corners of the cross: C S P B -Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti  (Translated: Cross of the Holy Father Benedict). Finally, The initials around the perimeter: V R S N S M V — S M Q L I V B Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana — Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas (Translated: Step back, Satan, do not suggest to me thy vanities — Evil are the things thou profferest, drink thou thy own poison).

 

I think that many of us have seen the medal, but perhaps few understand its significance. Because of Benedict and his work and influence, he is heralded as the founder of Western Monasticism. Today, there are over 20,000 Benedictine monks and nuns throughout the world, and over 100 Benedictine communities here in the United States. Saint Benedict, pray for us!

 

Fr. Ernest Bedard, OFM Cap., M.Div, ThM.