SAINT OF THE DAY
TUESDAY, 11 JULY, 2023
SAINT BENEDICT OF NURSIA
ABBOT AND CONFESSOR
(480 - 547)
Saint Benedict was born at Norcia around 480 AD. After attending primary schools in Norcia, Benedict went to Rome to broaden his knowledge of literature and law. However, since he was probably disgusted by the dissolute lifestyle of his peers and by Rome's difficult political situation, he retired to Affile with a group of priests, taking his old nurse with him as a servant.
At Affile, Saint Benedict worked his first miracle, restoring to perfect condition an earthenware wheat sifter which his man-servant had accidentally broken. The notoriety which this miracle brought drove Benedict to withdraw further from social life. He took shelter in a cave in the ruins of Nero's village, near Subiaco, where he began to live as a hermit. Immersed in loneliness, his only contact with the outside world was with a monk called Romanus, whose monastery was nearby. He gave Saint Benedict a monk's habit and provided for his spiritual and material needs. Three solitary years followed. Some shepherds befriended Benedict. They began to follow his teachings and the pastoral and apostolic principles of the Benedictine Order took root.
FOUNDING MONASTERIES — SUBIACO
After resisting a strong temptation against chastity, Benedict prepared to live through a new experience, following the example of the ancient Fathers of Christian Monasticism. At first, the community of Vicovaro wanted him as its Abbot, but the failed attempt of a monk to poison him forced Benedict to return to his solitude. Afterwards, he founded twelve monasteries and assigned twelve monks to each of them. In addition, he founded a thirteenth monastery for novices and those needing education. Benedict's fame spread so rapidly, even in Rome, that two illustrious men, Equizius and the nobleman Tertullus, entrusted him with their two sons, Maurus and Placidus. They were to become the first two gems of the Benedictine family.
During his life, Saint Benedict performed many miracles. He found water on a desolate mountaintop to quench the thirst of his monks. He retrieved a bill hook's iron from the bottom of a lake and rejoined its handle. He prevented a monk from leading a dissolute life through intervention. In addition, he made Maurus walk on water to save the young Placidus from drowning.
Unfortunately, a priest called Florentius was envious of Benedict's popularity and his envy forced the Saint to depart in spite of insistence from his disciples. After leaving Subiaco, Benedict went towards Cassino. In the period between 525 and 529 AD he founded the Abbey of Montecassino. It would become the most famous abbey in continental Europe. On the remains of the altar of Apollo he built a chapel dedicated to Saint John the Baptist, while the temple of Apollo itself was turned into an oratory for the monks which was dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours.
MONASTIC LIFE TAKES ROOT — MONTECASSINO
At Montecassino Saint Benedict displayed prodigious activity. He supervised the building of the monastery, established a monastic order and performed many miracles. He brought back from death a youngster, miraculously supplied the monastery with flour and oil in its time of need and displayed the gift of prophecy. In autumn of 542 AD, while the Goth King Totila was passing through Cassino en route to Naples to attack it, he decided to test Saint Benedict because he had already heard of his gifts and charisms. As a consequence, Totila sent his squire dressed as a king to greet the monk; but Saint Benedict soon unmasked him. When he finally met Totila, he warned him with a dire prediction: “You have hurt many and you continue to do it, now stop behaving badly! You will enter Rome, you will cross the vast sea, you will reign for nine years; however in the tenth year, you will die.” And that is exactly what happened. Saint Benedict showed the same virtue as he cried bitterly when confronted with the vision of the first destruction of his monastery. Notwithstanding, he received from God the grace to save all the monks.
Saint Benedict devoted himself to evangelizing the local population who practiced pagan worship. Shortly before he died, Saint Benedict saw the soul of his sister Saint Scholastica rising to heaven in the form of a dove. This vision happened a few days after their last talk together at the foot of Montecassino. In a vision, Benedict saw the soul of Bishop Germanus of Capua taken by angels in a fire globe. These visions, for Pope Saint Gregory the Great, showed a close union between Benedict and God, a union so intense that the Saint was given the share of an even more magnificent vision, the whole of creation as gathered in a sunbeam.
In the end, a life so noble was justifiably followed by a much-glorified death. According to tradition, Saint Benedict died on March 21, 547 AD. He foresaw his coming death, informing his close and faraway disciples that the end was near. Six days before dying, he had the grave which he was to share with his deceased sister Saint Scholastica, opened. Then, completely exhausted, he asked to be taken into his oratory where, after taking his last Holy Communion, he died supported by his monks.
ABOUT THE ORIGINAL MEDAL OF ST. BENEDICT
This highly indulgenced medal bears a likeness of the great “Father of the Monastic Life.” In his right hand is a cross, beside which are the words Crux “Patris Benedicti” (“The Cross of the Father Benedict”); in his left hand is the book of the Benedictine rule. At his feet are represented a chalice and a raven, symbols of the priesthood and of hermit life. Around the edge are the words “Eius in Obitu Nostro Praesentia Muniamur” (“At our death may we be fortified by His presence”).
On the reverse side is a cross, on the vertical bar of which are the initial letters of the words “Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux” (“The holy Cross be my light”); on the horizontal bar are the initials of “Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux” (“Let not the Dragon be my guide”); and around are other letters signifying other Latin mottoes. At the top is usually the word “Pax” (“Peace”) or the monogram “I H S.”
There are many indulgences for the wearers, including a plenary one on All Souls' Day, obtained by visiting a church on that day or on its eve, and praying there for the intention of the Holy Father. The original medal of St. Benedict was first approved by Benedict XIV in 1741, and further indulgences were granted by Pius IX in 1877 and by St Pius X in 1907.
THE USE OF THE ST. BENEDICT MEDAL
It may be worn about the neck, attached to the scapular or the rosary, or otherwise carried devoutly about one's person. For the sick it can be placed on wounds, dipped in medicine or in water which is given to them to drink.
The St. Benedict Medals and Tokens are frequently put into the foundation of houses or in walls, hung over doors, or fastened on stables and barns to call down God's protection and blessing. It can also be buried in fields.
Blessing Ritual of the St. Benedict Medal includes the Exorcism Formula. Catholics should seek the catholic priest who will pray to God for all the blessings. The very wearing and use of such Medal is considered a continues silent prayer to God to grant us, through the merits of St. Benedict, peace, protection, and the favors we request.
For obtaining extraordinary favors, it is highly recommended to perform special devotions in honor of the holy Father St. Benedict such as reading (and following) St Benedict rules, attending the Most Holy Sacrifice of the Mass on St. Benedict Feast Day, and praying the novena to St. Benedict.
ST. BENEDICT PRAYER
May the intercession of the Blessed Patriarch and Abbot Benedict render Thee merciful unto us, O Lord, that what our own unworthiness cannot obtain, we may receive through his powerful patronage. Through Christ Our Lord. Amen.
(The St. Benedict prayer may be said when using the Medal for any pious purpose.)
ST. BENEDICT'S MEDAL PRAYER
The English prayer is
“THE HOLY CROSS BE MY LIGHT,
MAY THE DRAGON NEVER BE MY GUIDE.
GET AWAY, SATAN!”
NEVER TEMPT ME WITH YOUR VANITIES!
WHAT YOU OFFER ME IS EVIL,
DRINK THE POISON YOURSELF!”
_
The Latin prayer is
CRUX SACRA SIT MIHI LUX
NON DRACO SIT MIHI DUX
VADE RETRO SATANA
NUMQUAM SUADE MIHI VANA
SUNT MALA QUAE LIBAS
IPSE VENENA BIBAS.
PATRON: Against nettle rash; against poison; against witchcraft; agricultural workers; cavers; coppersmiths; dying people; erysipelas; Europe; farm workers; farmers; fever; gall stones; Germany; inflammatory diseases; Italian architects; kidney disease; monks; nettle rash; Norcia, Italy; people in religious orders; schoolchildren; servants who have broken their master's belongings; speliologists; spelunkers; temptations.
PRAYER: O God, who made the Abbot Saint Benedict an outstanding master in the school of divine service, grant, we pray, that, putting nothing before love of you, we may hasten with a loving heart in the way of your commands. Through our Lord Jesus Christ, your Son, who lives and reigns with you in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.