Who Is St. Benedict?

St. Benedict’s Protection — A Lifetime of Defeating the Devil
Pope Gregory I, also known as St. Gregory the Great, detailed St. Benedict’s encounters with the devil as part of his four-part book series, The Dialogues. Here are some examples of how St. Benedict defeated the devil.
The Miracle of the Poisoned Wine

The cup immediately broke into pieces and his life was spared.
St. Benedict retreated back to his life of solitude, telling the monks “May Almighty God have mercy on you, and forgive you.” St. Benedict eventually went on to establish 12 monasteries and became known as the “father of western monasticism.”
The Black Bird

St. Benedict Moves a Large Stone by the Power of Prayer
St. Benedict once again drove the devil away on a day when the monks were busy building a new monastery. As the monks were moving stones to use in the building of the structure, they came across a large stone that they weren’t able to lift. The group of monks repeatedly tried to move the stone, without success. They realized the devil was sitting on the stone, preventing it from being used in the building of the monastery. St. Benedict arrived and after praying, drove the devil away and was able to pick up the stone himself with little effort.
St. Benedict Medal—what do the images mean?
The St. Benedict medal is filled with symbolic images. The front of the medal has the image of St. Benedict holding a cross in his right hand and The Rule of Benedict—a guide on how monks and nuns should live a balanced, simple, obedient, and prayerful life—in his left hand. The same rules are still used today, over 1500 years later.
To the right of St. Benedict is a cup with a serpent, representing the poisoned cup of wine that shattered after he blessed it. To his left is a raven with a loaf of bread. This image refers to the second attempt on St. Benedict’s life when a jealous enemy gave him a poisoned loaf of bread. God sent a raven to take the bread away. On each side of St. Benedict are Latin words meaning: “The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict.” Below his feet are the words: “From the Holy Monte Cassino, 1880.” This is the date that Monte Cassino (St. Benedict’s first monastery) was given exclusive rights to produce the medal. It was the 1400th anniversary of St. Benedict’s birth. Around the edge of the medal are the words: “May his presence protect us in the hour of death.”
Back of the St. Benedict Medal
The back of the medal features a large cross in the center. The vertical beam of the cross has the letters: C.S.S.M.L., which represent the first letters of the words: Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux (May the Holy Cross be for me a light). The horizontal beam of the cross has the letters: N.D.S.M.D., the first letters of the words: Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux (Let not the dragon be my guide). The four large letters at the angles of the Cross: C S P B stands for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti (The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict). Encircling the right edge of the medal are the initials for the words: Vade retro Satana; nunquam suade mihi vana (Begone Satan! Suggest not to me thy vain things). On the left edge of the medal are the initials for the words: Sunt mala quae libas; ipse venena bibas (The drink you offer is evil; drink that poison yourself). The word “Pax,” meaning “Peace” is inscribed on the top.
How You Can Use the St. Benedict Medal for Protection
The St. Benedict medal is a visible reminder to call on St. Benedict to be your intercessor before God to protect your body and soul from the dangers of evil. The medal can be worn on a chain around your neck, attached to a rosary, kept in a wallet or purse, or placed in your car or home. Many people also choose to place the St. Benedict medal in the foundation of houses and buildings they’re building, for years of protection.