Saint Benedict Medal Stainless Steel Cross Ring

• Size: about 20 mm high
•  Weight: about 12 g
•  Material: Stainless steel, copper

Saint Benedict Medallion
The medal is one of the oldest and most honored medals used by Christians and due to the belief in its power against evil is also known
as the "devil-chasing medal". As early as the 11th century, it may have initially had the form of Saint Benedict's cross, and was used by
pope Leo IX. The reverse side of the medal carries the Vade retro satana ("Begone, Satan!") formula which has been used by Christians
to ward off evil since the 15th century. Sometimes carried as part of the rosary, it is also found individually.

This religious object is also a Christian symbol of opening doors and opening difficult paths. Tradition holds that it protects from curses, evil and vice, protects against diseases and protects good health.

Saint Benedict was the founder of the Benedictine monastery of Mount Cassino and the father of Western monasticism; the rules he established became the norms of the entire monastic life. In 1964, because monks followed this book in the evangelization and civilization of many European countries in the Middle Ages. In the work of the ecclesiastical rules, Pope Paul VI declared him the patron saint of the whole of Europe.

The medal’s symbolism

On the front of the medal is Saint Benedict holding a cross in his right hand, the Christian symbol of salvation, and in the left his rule for monasteries. To Benedict's right, below the cross, is a poisoned cup, a reference to the legend that hostile monks attempted to poison him, and the cup containing poisoned wine shattered when the saint made the sign of the cross over it. To his left, below the rule, the raven that carried off a loaf of poisoned bread. From this is derived the tradition that the medal protects against poisoning.Above the cup and raven are the words Crux sancti patris Benedicti ('The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict'). Surrounding the figure of Saint Benedict are the words Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur! ('May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death'), since Benedictines regarded him as a particular patron of a happy death. Below the icon of St. Benedict, it is written 'EX SM Casino, MDCCCLXXX' and it means 'Found out from the Casino mountain in 1880.'

On the back is a cross, containing the letters C S S M L - N D S M D, initials of the words Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Nunquam draco sit mihi dux! ('May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord!').The large C S P B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti ('The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict'). Surrounding the back of the medal are the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B, in reference to Vade retro satana: Vade retro Satana! Numquam 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!') and finally, located at the top is the word PAX which means 'peace'