5. The accused-witches revealed that they
had no power over Metten, which was
under the protection of the cross. This
prompted the authorities to investigate.
6. On the walls of Metten Abbey they found
painted crosses that were surrounded by
mysterious letter initials which are found
on the Benedictine medals.
7. The mystery was solved upon having
found a 232 year old manuscript
inside the abbey.
8. In one of its pages,
St. Benedict was depicted holding
a staff and a scroll.
9. Inscribed on the scroll was the meaning of
the letter initials which turned out to be a
powerful formula of exorcism.
10.
11. One side of the medal
bears an image of
St. Benedict,
holding a cross in the
right hand and the
Holy Rule in the left.
12. On the one side of
the image is a cup,
on the other a raven,
and above
the cup and the raven
are inscribed the words:
13. The image represents the event when a group of monks
plotted to murder St. Benedict because they believed
his doctrines to be strict.
They poisoned the mass wine, but when St. Benedict
made the sign of the cross over the chalice, it fell to
the ground and shattered.
14. The image represents a second attempt to murder St.
Benedict by poisoning his bread, but God sent a raven
who carried it off before he could consume it.
16. Round the margin of the
medal stands the legend:
Ejus in obitu nostro
praesentia muniamur
(May his presence protect us
in our hour of death).
17. Below his feet:
Ex S M Casino MDCCCLXXX
(From the Holy Mount of Casino,
1880)
On that date, Monte Casino was
given the exclusive right to
produce this medal, and special
Jubilee indulgences were added.
18.
19. In the angles of the cross
with the initial letters of
the words:
Crux Sancti
Patris Benedicti
The cross of our holy
father Benedict
20. The medal bears a cross.
On the horizontal bar;
the initial letters of the
words,
Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux
May the holy cross
be my light
21. written downward
on the perpendicular bar;
the initial letters of the
words,
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux
The dragon never be
my guide
22. Round the margin stand the
initial letters of the medal:
Vade Retro Satana
Begone, Satan !
Nunquam Suade
Mihi Vana
Tempt me not with your vanities !
23. Round the margin stand the
initial letters of the medal:
Sunt Mala Quae Libas
What you offer me is evil
Ipse Venena Bibas
Drink the poisoned cup yourself
24. At the top of the cross
usually stands the word
Pax
peace
25.
26. 1. It wards off from both
the soul and the body
all dangers arising
from the devil.
2. The Medal is powerful in
obtaining for sinners the
grace of conversion.
27. 3. It obtains protection and
aid for persons
tormented by the
evil spirit, and in
temptations against
holy purity.
4. It procures assistance in
the hour of death.
28. 5. It has often proved an
efficacious remedy for
bodily sufferings, and a
means of protection
against contagious
diseases.
6. Expectant mothers have
obtained special assistance
for a safe delivery.
29. 7. In time of storms,
tempests and other
dangers on land and sea
it has been found to be
a protection.
8. Even domestic animals
have been visibly aided
by it when infected with
disease.
30.
31. O glorious St. Benedict,
sublime model of all virtues,
pure vessel of God's grace!
Behold me, humbly kneeling at thy feet.
I implore thy loving heart to pray for me
before the throne of God.
To thee I have recourse in all the dangers
which daily surround me.
32. Shield me against my enemies,
inspire me to imitate thee in all things.
May thy blessing be with me always,
so that I may shun whatever God forbids
and avoid the occasions of sin.
Graciously obtain for me from God
those favors and graces
of which I stand so much in need,
in the trials, miseries and afflictions of life.
33. Thy heart was always so full of
love, compassion, and mercy towards
those who were afflicted or
troubled in any way.
Thou didst never dismiss without
consolation and assistance
anyone who had re-course to thee.
I therefore invoke thy powerful intercession,
in the confident hope that thou wilt hear my prayers
34. and obtain for me the special grace
and favor I so earnestly implore
(mention it),
if it be for the greater glory of God
and the welfare of my soul.
Help me, O great St. Benedict,
to live and die as a faithful child of God,
to be ever submissive to His holy will,
and to attain the eternal happiness of heaven. Amen.
35.
36. 1. On a chain around the neck.
2. Attached to one’s rosary.
3. Kept in one’s pocket or purse.
4. Placed in one’s car or home.
5. Placed in the foundation of a building.
6. Placed in the center of a cross.
The use of any religious article is intended as a means of reminding
one of God and of inspiring a willingness and desire to serve God and
neighbor. It is not regarded as a good luck charm or magical device.
37. One of the greatest protectors against
the assaults of the devil is the St. Benedict’s Medal.
38. When asking for the St. Benedict medal to be blessed, many priests and people
do not know that it needs to be exorcised and blessed with this prayer.
Most priests just bless it in the form of a cross.
So when you ask for your medal to be blessed, be sure to print up the blessing
prayer to have on hand and take Exorcised Holy Water along with you.
The priest may not want to do it in Latin so have the English one ready too.
It is a big sacrifice for us priests to continually be interrupted to do blessings,
especially long blessings.
But that is what we are here for, to save souls and sanctify things. Try to ask for
the exorcism and blessing when you see that the priest is a little free.
39. V. Adjutorium nostrum in nomine Domini.
R. Qui fecit caelum et terram.
Exorcizo vos, numismata, per Deum + Patrem omnipotentem, qui fecit
caelum et terram, mare et omnia, quae in eis sunt. Omnis virtus adversarii,
omnis exercitus diaboli, et omnis incursus, omne phantasma satanae,
eradicare et effugare, ab his numismatibus: ut fiant omnibus, qui eis usuri
sunt, salus mentis et corporis: in nomine Patris + omnipotentis, et Jesu +
Christi Filii ejus, Domini nostri, et Spiritus + Sancti Paracliti, et in caritate
ejusdem Domini nostri Jesu Christi, qui venturus est judicare vivos et
mortuos, et saeculum per ignem.
R. Amen.
40. V. Domine exaudi orationem meam.
R. Et clamor meus ad te veniat.
V. Dominus vobiscum.
R. Et cum spiritu tuo.
Oremus:
Deus omnipotens, bonorum omnium largitor, supplices te rogamus, ut per
intercessionem sancti Benedicti his sacris numismatibus tuam beneditionem
+ infundas, ut omnes qui ea gestaverint ac bonis operibus intenti fuerint,
sanitatem mentis et corporis, et gratiam sanctificationis, atque indulgentias
(nobis) concessas consequi mereantur, omnesque diaboli insidias et fraudes,
per auxilium misericordiae tuae, studeant devitare et in conspectu tuo sancti
et immaculati valeant apparere. Per Christum Dominum nostrum.
R. Amen.
( The medal is sprinkled with Holy Water )
41. V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
In the name of God the Father + who made heaven and earth, the
seas and all that is in them,
I exorcise this medal against the power and attacks of the evil
one. May all who use this medal devoutly be blessed with health of
soul and body. In the name of the Father + almighty, of the Son +
Jesus Christ our Lord, and of the Holy + Spirit the 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.
R. Amen.
42. Let us pray:
Almighty God, the boundless source of all good things, we humbly
ask that, through the intercession of St. Benedict, you pour out your
blessings + upon this medal. May those who use it devoutly and
earnestly strive to perform good works, be blessed by you with health
of soul and body, the grace of a holy life, and remission of the
temporal punishment due to sin. May they also with the help of your
merciful love, resist the temptation of the evil one and strive to
exercise true charity and justice toward all, so that one day they may
appear sinless and holy in your sight. This we ask through Christ our
Lord.
R. Amen.
(The medal is sprinkled with Holy Water)