The Saint Benedict Medal is one of the most powerful sacramentals in Christian tradition, particularly within the Roman Catholic Church. It represents spiritual protection, invoking the intercession of Saint Benedict of Nursia and the power of Christ against the forces of evil. At its core is the Latin phrase Vade Retro Satana, often translated as “Get behind me, Satan”, which has been a defining element of Christian prayers against demonic influences for centuries. Saint Benedict of Nursia (480–543 AD) is widely regarded as the father of Western monasticism and one of the most influential figures in Christian spirituality. His life, as recounted by Pope Gregory the Great in the Dialogues (Book II), was characterized by his dedication to prayer, asceticism, and the rejection of worldly vanities. Benedict’s founding of the monastery at Monte Cassino, along with his authorship of the Rule of Saint Benedict, laid the foundation for centuries of monastic life. Central to Benedict’s legacy is his reputation as a spiritual warrior and exorcist.
Growing up Catholic I was always fascinated by the practice of exorcism which I now partly attribute to my natal Mars in the 9th house. Firmicus Maternus in his Mathesis says of this placement: These men are called exorcists. The native who has Mars in the ninth house will thus easily be able to free suffering mankind from all malevolent demons. Several anecdotes from the life of Benedict life depict him resisting demonic attacks through prayer, fasting, and reliance on the cross. Benedict also miraculously survived multiple poisoning attempts. One group of monks, consumed by envy toward the saint’s extraordinary holiness and embittered by the rigor of his rules, conspired to eliminate him. They sought to poison his wine, but when St. Benedict offered a prayer of blessing over the tainted chalice, it miraculously shattered in his hands. On another occasion, a jealous priest attempted to take his life with poisoned bread. St. Benedict invoked divine protection, and a raven swooped down, seizing the bread before he could partake of it. These miraculous events have immortalized the saint in sacred art, where he is often depicted holding a fractured chalice or accompanied by a raven clutching a piece of bread in its beak.
Encoded in the medal are various Latin prayers, which are translated below in the following passage from the book The Cross and Medal of Saint Benedict, which was compiled and translated by Fr. Robert Nixon:
The various short Latin verses which these letters on the medal of Saint Benedict represent are given below, followed by an English translation of each.
Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti
Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict.Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux.
May the Holy Cross be light to me.Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux.
May the Dragon not be a leader to me.Vade Retro Sathana Numquam Suade Mihi Vana.
Get behind me, Satan: Never persuade me [to do] vain things.Sunt Mala Quae Libas Ipse Venena Bibas.
What you like is evil; May you yourself drink [your] venom!It is pertinent to note that the Latin verses are written in poetic form, and in fact, exhibit very strong rhymes. The rhyming elements are highlighted below, by presenting the texts in question as couplets…
Crux sacra sit mihi lux.
Non draco sit mihi dux.
Vade retro Sathana;
Numquam suade mihi vana.
Sunt mala quae libas:
Ipse venena bibas.
Judika Illes in her excellent Encyclopedia of Mystics, Saints, & Sages says this of Benedict:
Benedict is the patron saint of exorcism. He is invoked against poison, poisoners, and kidney stones. He is the patron of happy death. He protects against witches, witchcraft, and malevolent spells. He is invoked for assistance by servants who have broken their employers’ possessions; he provides healing for animals.
and this of his medal:
The medal may be worn on a chain as a medallion, attached to rosary beads, or carried in a pocket or a charm bag. It may also be placed in a car or buried in the foundation of a building to ward off malevolent spirits. It reputedly protects against poison, contagious illness, and tempestuous weather. Brought into the delivery room, it provides for safe childbirth.
Molded from a Saint Benedict medal and surrounded by a hand sculpted form which features protective spikes and and three crosses to represent the trinity, this pendant was created for protection and exorcism and can also be used as a pocket rosary. This can be prayed by counting from the top left cross, then the 4 spikes, skipping over the bottom cross, and then moving up the 4 right spikes to the top right cross, making 10 points. The pendants were cast in solid sterling silver, bathed in holy water, and then touched to a first class relic of Saint Benedict from a private collection, making them officially 3rd class relics of Saint Benedict according to the rules of the church. The medals measure approximately 1.5″ tall and come on your choice of black satin cord or oxidized sterling silver chain.
For more information on the Cross of St Benedict, I highly recommend The Cross and Medal of Saint Benedict compiled and translated by Fr. Robert Nixon and for more information on exorcism within Catholicism I recommend