St. Benedict of Nursia (c. 480–547), the father of Western monasticism, is invoked by Catholics above all for protection against evil and for a happy death. His best-known prayer is the one engraved on the St. Benedict medal: a short exorcism in Latin, “Begone, Satan,” which countless Catholics pray in temptation and danger.
Below is the St. Benedict medal prayer in Latin and English with the meaning of every letter on the medal, prayers to St. Benedict for protection and for a holy death, and a short account of his life.
The St. Benedict medal prayer
The letters on the back of the medal stand for these Latin verses:
Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux,
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux.
Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana;
Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas.
In English:
The Holy Cross be my light;
Let not the dragon be my guide.
Begone, Satan, do not suggest to me thy vanities;
Evil are the things thou profferest, drink thou thy own poison.
Many Catholics pray it whenever they feel tempted, afraid or in danger, often while holding the medal.
What the letters on the St. Benedict medal mean
| Letters | Latin | English |
|---|---|---|
| C S P B (around the cross) | Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti | The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict |
| C S S M L (vertical bar) | Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux | May the holy cross be my light |
| N D S M D (horizontal bar) | Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux | Let not the dragon be my guide |
| V R S N S M V | Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana | Begone, Satan, never tempt me with your vanities |
| S M Q L I V B | Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas | What you offer me is evil; drink the poison yourself |
| PAX (at the top) | Pax | Peace (the Benedictine motto) |
The front shows St. Benedict holding a cross and the book of his Rule. Beside him are a cup, from which poison was said to have sprung out when he blessed it, and a raven, which carried away a poisoned loaf. The jubilee medal, struck at Monte Cassino in 1880, adds around the edge: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur, “May we be strengthened by his presence at the hour of our death.”
A prayer to St. Benedict for protection
Written for this page:
Holy Father Benedict, you trusted in the cross of Christ
and overcame every temptation and danger by its power.
Protect me, my family and my home from all evil,
from the snares of the enemy, from sin and from sudden harm.
Help me to put on the armor of God
and to prefer nothing to the love of Christ. Amen.
St. Paul’s words on spiritual combat:
Put you on the armour of God, that you may be able to stand against the deceits of the devil.
For he hath given his angels charge over thee; to keep thee in all thy ways.
In their hands they shall bear thee up: lest thou dash thy foot against a stone.
See also our St. Michael prayer and Catholic prayer for protection.
A prayer to St. Benedict for a happy death
St. Benedict died standing in the chapel of Monte Cassino, supported by his monks, after receiving Holy Communion, with his hands raised in prayer. For this reason he is a patron of a happy death. This prayer was written for this page:
Glorious St. Benedict, you died in the arms of your brothers,
strengthened by the Body of Christ.
Be with me at the hour of my death.
Obtain for me true sorrow for my sins, the grace of the sacraments,
and a peaceful passing into the presence of God. Amen.
See prayers for the dying and last rites.
The life of St. Benedict
Benedict was born around 480 at Nursia (Norcia) in Umbria. Sent to Rome to study, he was repelled by the corruption of the city and withdrew to live as a hermit in a cave at Subiaco. Disciples gathered around him, and he founded twelve small monasteries. Around 529 he moved to Monte Cassino, between Rome and Naples, where he wrote his Rule, a short book of wisdom for monks built on prayer, work, obedience, humility and hospitality. His twin sister, St. Scholastica, led a community of nuns nearby. He died around 547.
The Rule of St. Benedict shaped Western monasticism and much of European civilization; in 1964 Pope St. Paul VI proclaimed him patron of Europe. His feast is July 11.
How to use the St. Benedict medal
- Have it blessed by a priest. A traditional special blessing exists for the Benedictine medal.
- Wear it on a chain, or carry it in a pocket or a car; many place it at the door of a house or bury it in the foundations of a new home.
- Pray the medal prayer, a Glory Be, or simply “Holy Father Benedict, pray for us.”
- Remember that the medal is a sacramental, not a charm: its power comes from the prayer and faith it expresses.
Frequently asked questions
What is St. Benedict the patron saint of?
Protection against evil and poison, a happy death, Europe, monks, farmers, students, and those suffering from temptation.
When is the feast of St. Benedict?
July 11 in the General Roman Calendar. Benedictine monasteries also keep his death on March 21.
Is the St. Benedict medal an exorcism?
The prayer on the medal is a short prayer of exorcism in the broad sense: a rejection of Satan and his temptations, which any Christian may pray. Solemn exorcism of a possessed person is reserved to a priest authorized by the bishop.
Can non-Catholics wear the St. Benedict medal?
Anyone may wear it, but it should be worn with faith in Christ, not as a good-luck charm.
More prayers for protection
- St. Gregory the Great
- Prayer for a happy death
- St. Scholastica prayer
- Catholic prayer for deliverance
- The St. Michael prayer
- Catholic prayer for protection
- The Guardian Angel prayer
- Patron saints for every need
- Saint of the day
Texts and sources
- The medal inscriptions and their translations: Michael Ott, “Medal of Saint Benedict,” Catholic Encyclopedia (1913), public domain (Wikisource); arranged as verse lines.
- Scripture: Ephesians 6:11; Psalm 90:11–12, Douay-Rheims Bible (Challoner), public domain.
- Life: St. Gregory the Great, Dialogues, Book II; Paul VI, apostolic letter Pacis Nuntius (1964).
- The prayers for protection and for a happy death were written for this page.