THE SAINT BENEDICT MEDAL : SPIRITUAL WEAPON

SPIRITUAL WEAPONS: THE ST. BENEDICT MEDAL

In Scripture, St. Peter tells us to be sober and watchful because, “your adversary the devil prowls around like a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). The devil is real, and he wants to destroy you and me through any means possible. That’s why it’s so important that we fight back with the spiritual weapons of prayer and faith.

One of the powerful weapons in spiritual combat is the St. Benedict medal. Honored and employed for centuries, this medal has been associated with many miracles, as well as with powers of exorcism.

Origins

The exact origins of the St. Benedict medal are uncertain, although it is said that the first medal was worn by the 11th century Pope, Leo IX, who attributed his miraculous recovery from a snake bite to it. St. Benedict medals of various types have been in use ever since, but the medal in its current form, known as the Jubilee medal, was not struck until 1880, when it was created to honor the 1,400th anniversary of St. Benedict’s birth.

Meaning

The St. Benedict medal is rich in meaning. The front contains an image of St. Benedict holding a cross and his famous monastic rule. On his left and right are words meaning, “The cross of our holy father, St. Benedict.” The outer edge contains the words in Latin, “May we at our death be fortified by his presence.”

The back of the medal is even more interesting. It contains a series of initials that stand for a Latin exorcism prayer, as well as a prayer for guidance.

Emblazoned on the prominently placed cross are the letters C S S M L – N D S M D, which stand for the Latin prayer:

Crux sacra sit mihi lux!

Nunquam draco sit mihi dux!

Translated, it means:

The Holy Cross be my light;

Let not the dragon be my guide.

Surrounding the outer rim of the back are the letters V R S N S M V – S M Q L I V B. These letters stand for an exorcism prayer based on an incident from St. Benedict’s life.

After St. Benedict had been a hermit for three years, and his reputation for holiness had spread far and wide, he was asked by a group of monks to be their abbot. St. Benedict agreed, but some rebellious monks in the community really disliked this idea, and they decided to kill St. Benedict by poisoning his bread and wine. As St. Benedict made the sign of the cross over his food, as was his custom, he immediately knew that they had been poisoned. He threw the wine on the ground, saying:

Vade retro Satana!

Nunquam suade mihi vana!

Sunt mala quae libas.

Ipse venena bibas!

This means:

Begone, Satan,

Do not suggest to me thy vanities!

Evil are the things thou offerest,

Drink thou thy own poison!

It is this prayer that is represented by the initials surrounding the back of the medal.

Use

 Benedict medals are used in many ways, but always as a protection against evil. Some people bury them in the foundations of new buildings to keep them free from evil influences, while others attach them to rosaries or hang them on the wall in their homes. But the most common way to use the St. Benedict medal is to wear it. The medal can be worn by itself or embedded in a crucifix, like the one pictured.

Regardless of how it is used, the medal should always be blessed using the prayer found here. While, in former times, only Benedictines could bless the medal, now any priest can.

If you don’t own a St. Benedict medal, I highly recommend you get one. It’s basic protection, like the bullet proof vest of sacramentals!

Myth: Catholics Dont Know the Bible Well

 

The statement that "Catholics don't know the Bible well" is a myth and not an accurate portrayal of the Catholic Church or its followers. While it is true that some individuals within any religious group may have varying levels of familiarity with religious texts, it is unfair and inaccurate to generalize this to an entire religious community.

In reality, the Catholic Church places great importance on the Bible as a central source of spiritual guidance and revelation. Catholic worship includes regular Scripture readings during Mass, and the Church encourages its members to engage in personal Bible study and reflection. The Catechism of the Catholic Church, which serves as a comprehensive guide to Catholic beliefs, frequently references and quotes Scripture.

Furthermore, the Catholic Church has a long and rich tradition of biblical scholarship. Many renowned theologians, scholars, and saints within the Catholic tradition have dedicated their lives to studying and interpreting the Bible. The Church has also produced numerous translations, commentaries, and resources to aid in the understanding of Scripture.

Additionally, Catholic education, particularly in seminaries and religious formation programs, emphasizes the study of Scripture. Priests, deacons, and religious educators undergo extensive training in biblical studies, enabling them to share the teachings of the Bible with the faithful.

It is essential to recognize that the Catholic Church values the Bible and encourages its members to engage with it in their spiritual journey. While individuals may vary in their level of familiarity with the Bible, it is inaccurate to assume that Catholics as a whole do not know the Bible well.

CONSECRATION PRAYER TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST-PRAY DAILY DURING THE MONTH OF JULY

 

FEAST OF THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS: JULY 1st (also the Month of July is dedicated to the Most Precious Blood of Jesus)

CONSECRATION PRAYER TO THE PRECIOUS BLOOD OF JESUS CHRIST

 Being Conscious, O'merciful Savior, of my nothingness and of Thy sublimity, I cast myself at Thy feet and thank Thee for the many proofs of Thy grace shown unto me, Thy ungrateful creature. I thank Thee especially for delivering me by Thy Precious Blood from the destructive power of Satan. In the presence of my dear Mother Mary, my guardian angel, my patron saint, and of the whole company of heaven, I dedicate myself voluntarily with a sincere heart, O dearest Jesus, to Thy Precious Blood, by which Thou hast redeemed the world from sin, death, and hell. I promise Thee, with the help of Thy grace and to the utmost of my strength to stir up and foster devotion to Thy Precious Blood, the price of our redemption, so that Thy adorable Blood may be honored and glorified by all. In this way, I wish to make reparation for my disloyalty towards Thy Precious Blood of love, and to make satisfaction to Thee for the many profanations which men commit against that precious price of their salvation. O would that my own sins, my coldness, and all the acts of disrespect I have ever committed against Thee, O Holy Precious Blood, could be undone. Behold, O dearest Jesus, I offer to Thee the love, honor, and adoration, which Thy most Holy Mother, Thy faithful disciples, and all the saints have offered to Thy Precious Blood. I ask Thee to forget my earlier faithlessness and coldness and to forgive all who offend Thee. Sprinkle me, O Divine Savior, and all men with Thy Precious Blood, so that we, O Crucified Love, may love Thee from now on with all our hearts, and worthily honor the price of our salvation. Amen. We fly to thy patronage, O holy Mother of God; despise not our petitions in our necessities, but deliver us always from all dangers, O glorious and blessed Virgin. Amen. Our Father…Hail Mary…Glory Be.... Precious Blood of Jesus, Save us! 

Saint Lutgarde and Her Devotion To The Sacred Heart Of Jesus

A LITTLE KNOWN DEVOTEE OF THE SACRED HEART OF JESUS

St. Lutgarde was born in the 12th century and interestingly, did not have the pious start in life you often hear about with saints. In fact, the only reason she entered the Benedictine monastery was to avoid embarrassment when her dowry was accidentally squandered in a failed business deal. This left her ineligible for a proper marriage. To hide from the situation, she fled to the convent, which was considered a “dignified alternative.”

After living in the monastery for some time without any piety, she eventually began receiving visions of Jesus. At one point, Our Lord said He would grant her whatever she requested of Him and she asked for a better understanding of Latin. But later, she boldly asked Jesus for a different gift instead: His heart.

In a surprising turn of events from her start in life … St. Lutgarde became the first-known woman ever to receive the stigmata and was one of the very first promoters of devotion to the Sacred Heart.

She was even known to miraculously levitate, to fast heroically, and to speak with saints and souls in purgatory. Her story encourages the most lukewarm believer to take heart.

With her extraordinary experiences and forthright tenacity, St. Lutgarde is a powerhouse saint to lead us to Jesus and guide us to our longed-for destination: heaven. Here are some life lessons from the wise words of St. Lutgarde that will help make us holier:

St. Lutgarde asked, “Why did You give me such a grace, Lord? Now I hardly have any time to be alone with You! Take it away, please,” and she added, “only give me another grace, give me something better!'”

Jesus had lovingly offered to send St. Lutgarde any grace she requested. And St. Lutgarde had asked for an in-depth understanding of Latin so she could more thoroughly understand the inspiringly beautiful Latin music she sang each day.

Then God gave her the grace of healing even little sicknesses with merely the touch of her hand. Soon, she became inundated with visitors and she noticed it began to take her and the other nuns from time spent in prayer.

This is when she boldly asked Jesus to take away the previous graces and give her something better!

What an unexpected and powerful reminder that time to be alone with Jesus is something we should be willing to pray for and ultimately make time for, even if it means letting go of other good things in order to pursue that greatest good. The other good things will follow in God’s time and will.

Her feast day is June 16. And this coincides with the feast of the Sacred Heart of Jesus this year 2023 which is the Friday after the Second Sunday of Pentecost.

Why not ask for the special intercession of this saint of the Sacred Heart on the Feast of the Most Sacred Heart of Jesus

Source: Aleteia

The “Transubstantiation" Explained and a Prayer of Faith in the Divine Eucharist

 The “Transubstantiation” is the sacramental act by which the substance of the bread and wine is changed into the substance of the Body and Blood of Christ. Under the consecrated species of bread and wine “CHRIST HIMSELF, LIVING AND GLORIOUS, IS PRESENT IN A TRUE, REAL AND SUBSTANTIAL MANNER: HIS BODY AND HIS BLOOD, WITH HIS SOUL AND HIS DIVINITY” (cf. Council of Trent: DS 1640; 1651).

—Catechism of the Catholic Church

A PRAYER OF FAITH IN THE DIVINE EUCHARIST

I BELIEVE IN MY HEART and openly profess that the bread and wine which are placed upon the altar are by the mystery of the sacred Prayer and the Words of the Redeemer substantially changed into the TRUE and LIFE-GIVING FLESH and BLOOD of JESUS CHRIST Our Lord and after the Consecration, there is present the true Body of CHRIST which was born of the Virgin Mary and offered up for the salvation of the world, hung upon the Cross, and now sits at the right hand of the FATHER and there is present the true Blood of CHRIST which flowed from his side. They are present not only by means of a sign and of the efficacy of the Sacrament, but also in the very reality and truth of their nature and substance. Amen.