What do the letters on St. Benedict medals mean?

We've had opportunity to comment previously on the significance of the name former Cardinal Ratzinger took for himself when he was elected Pope (see "Benedict XVI, Benedict XV, and St. Benedict"). But we haven't yet made a point of noting the significance of the popular Jubilee Medal of Saint Benedict struck in 1880 on the 1400th anniversary of St. Benedict's birth. The medal is covered with letters, symbols, and Latin phrases whose meanings are freighted with significance.

Let's start with the reverse side of the medal, since that's the side that faces the front on St. Benedict crucifix, as pictured on the left. A crucifix symbolizes God's love for us. The St. Benedict Crucifix features a St. Benedict Medal in the center of the cross. When properly blessed by a priest, it is the most highly indulgenced medal of the Catholic Church, carrying the power of exorcism. As such, it is considered a powerful weapon against the devil and forces of darkness. As a sacramental of the Church, this crucifix is believed to offer protection from the devil, temptation, disease and storms. At the time of death, there can be no greater consolation than to gaze on our crucified Lord, who gave His life to give us eternal life.

The letters on the reverse side of the medal (on the front of the crucifix) refer to Latin words, whose meaning is as follows:

• C.S.P.B. = Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti (The Cross of Holy Father Benedict)
• C.S.S.M.L. = Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux (May the Holy Cross be my light!)
• N.D.S.M.D. = Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux (May the dragon never be my guide!)
• V.R.S. = Vade Retro Satana (Get behind me, Satan!)
• N.S.M.V. = Non Suade Mihi Vana (Do not suggest vain things to me!)
• S.M.Q.L. = Sunt Mala Quae Libas (What you are showing me is evil.)
• I.V.B. = Ipse Venena Bibas (Drink your poison yourself!)
• PAX = Peace.

On the front of the medal (on the back of the crucifix) is an image of St. Benedict, holding the cross in his right hand and his Rule for Monasteries in his left hand. On a pedestal to the right of St. Benedict is the poisoned cup, shattered when he made the sign of the cross over it. On a pedestal to his left is a raven about to carry away a loaf of poisoned breat that a jealous enemy had sent to St. Benedict. Above the cup and raven are the Latin words, Crux s[ancti] patris Benedicti (The Cross of our holy father Benedict). On the margin of the medal, encirciling the figure of Benedict, are the Latin words: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur (May his presence strenthen us in the hour of our death). Below Benedict is written: ex SM Casino MDCCCLXXX (from holy Monte Casino, 1880).

The medal was struck in 1880 under supervision of the monks of Montecassino, Italy, to mark the 1400th anniversary of the birth of St. Benedict. The design of the medal desplayed here was produced at St. Martin's Archabbey, Beuron, Germany, at the request of the prior of Montecassino, Very Rev. Boniface Krug, OSB (1838-1909). Prior Boniface was a native of Baltimore and originally a monk of St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, until he was chosen to become prior and later archabbot of Montecassino.

The St. Benedict Medal and St. Benedict Crucifix are visible reminders of Christ's love for us. As we trust in the crucified Christ and St. Benedict's intercession at the beginning of these new dark ages we have entered, may we come to know fully God's protection, provision and peace.

Credits:

• The Medal of Saint Benedict (The Order of Saint Benedict)
• Medal of Saint Benedict (The Catholic Encyclopedia)
• Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict (Apologia)
• The Jubilee Medal of St. Benedict (EWTN)
• The Saint Benedict Medal (Our Lady of Guadalupe)