1. The Story of St. Benedict
From
Fisheaters:
St. Benedict of Nursia, Italy (A.D. 480-543), the twin brother of St.
Scholastica, is considered to be
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By Nheyob - Own work, CC BY-SA 4.0, https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index. php?curid=40027470 |
the Father of Western monasticism, and
his “Rule of St. Benedict” came to be the basis of organization for
many religious orders (his own Order has its cradle at Monte Cassino,
Italy, about 80 miles South of Rome).
At any rate, in order to understand the symbolism of the Medal, you
must know of this event in St. Benedict’s life: he’d been living as a
hermit in a cave for three years, famous for his holiness, when a
religious community came to him after the death of their abbot and asked
Benedict to take over. Some of the “monks” didn’t like this plan and
attempted to kill him with poisoned bread and wine. Just as St. John the
Divine was miraculously saved from being poisoned, when St. Benedict
made the sign of the Cross over these things, he came to know they were
poisoned, so he toppled the cup and commanded a raven to carry off the
bread.
2. The Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict
The Catholic Encyclopedia Explains:
FRONT
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. 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: “Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti” (Cross of the
Holy Father Benedict). Round the margin of the medal stands the legend
“Ejus in obitu nostro praesentia muniamus” (May we at our death be
fortified by his presence).
BACK
The reverse of the medal bears a cross with the initial letters of the
words: “Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux” (The Holy Cross be my light), written
downward on the perpendicular bar; the initial letters of the words,
“Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux” (Let not the dragon be my guide), on the
horizontal bar; and the initial letters of “Crux Sancti Patris
Benedicti” in the angles of the cross. Round the margin stand the
initial letters of the distich: “Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi
Vana — Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas” (Begone, Satan, do not
suggest to me thy vanities — evil are the things thou profferest, drink
thou thy own poison). At the top of the cross usually stands the word
Pax (peace) or the monogram I H S (Jesus).
3. The History of the Jubilee Medal
The
Catholic encyclopedia recounts:
The medal just described is the so-called jubilee medal, which was
struck first in 1880, to commemorate the fourteenth centenary of St.
Benedict’s birth. The Archabbey of Monte Cassino has the exclusive right
to strike this medal. The ordinary medal of St. Benedict usually
differs from the preceding in the omission of the words “Ejus in obitu
etc.”, and in a few minor details. (For the indulgences connected with
it see Beringer, “Die Ablässe”, Paderborn, 1906, p. 404-6.)
The habitual wearer of the jubilee medal can gain all the indulgences connected with the ordinary medal and, in addition:
(1) All the indulgences that could be gained by
visiting the basilica, crypt, and tower of St. Benedict at Monte Cassino
(Pius IX, 31 December, 1877)
(2) A plenary indulgence on the feast of All Souls
(from about two o’clock in the afternoon of 1 November to sunset of 2
November), as often as (toties quoties), after confession and Holy
Communion, he visits any church or public oratory, praying there
according to the intention of the pope, provided that he is hindered
from visiting a church or public oratory of the Benedictines by
sickness, monastic enclosure or a distance of at least 1000 steps.
(Decr. 27 February, 1907, in Acta S. Sedis, LX, 246.) Any priest may
receive the faculties to bless these medals.
4. The Ancient Origins of the Medal
The
Catholic Encyclopedia recounts:
It is doubtful when the Medal of St. Benedict originated. During a
trial for witchcraft at Natternberg near the Abbey of Metten in Bavaria
in the year 1647, the accused women testified that they had no power
over Metten, which was under the protection of the cross. Upon
investigation, a number of painted crosses, surrounded by the letters
which are now found on Benedictine medals, were found on the walls of
the abbey, but their meaning had been forgotten.
Finally, in an old manuscript, written in 1415, was found a picture
representing St. Benedict holding in one hand a staff which ends in a
cross, and a scroll in the other. On the staff and scroll were written
in full the words of which the mysterious letters were the initials.
Medals bearing the image of St. Benedict, a cross, and these letters
began now to be struck in Germany, and soon spread over Europe. They
were first approved by Benedict XIV in his briefs of 23 December, 1741,
and 12 March, 1742.
5. The Medal Wards Against
1. To destroy witchcraft and all other diabolical and haunting influences;
2. To impart protection to persons tempted, deluded, or tormented by evil spirits;
3. To obtain the conversion of sinners into the Catholic Church, especially when they are in danger of death;
4. To serve as an armor against temptation;
5. To destroy the effects of poison;
6. To secure a timely and healthy birth for children;
7. To afford protection against storms and lightning;
8. To serve as an efficacious remedy for bodily afflictions and a means of protection against contagious diseases.
6. How to use the medal
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.
7. The Cross of the Happy Death
The excellent Catholic source
Fisheaters explains:
This Crucifix is known as “The Cross of a Happy Death” not only
because of the exorcizing properties of the Medal and the image of
Christ’s Body, but because of St. Benedict’s particular patronage based
on his death. Pope St. Gregory the Great (A.D. ca. 540-604) describes
his passing in his Dialogue:
Six days before he left this world he gave orders to have
his sepulchre opened, and forthwith falling into an ague, he began with
burning heat to wax faint; and when as the sickness daily increased,
upon the sixth day he commanded his monks to carry him into the oratory,
where he did arm himself receiving the Body and Blood of our Saviour
Christ; and having his weak body holden up betwixt the hands of his
disciples, he stood with his own hands lifted up to heaven; and as he
was in that manner praying, he gave up the ghost.
A plenary indulgence is granted under the usual conditions to one
who, at the hour of his death, kisses, touches, or otherwise reverences
the Crucifix, and commends his soul to God.