The
medal just described is the so-called jubilee medal, which was struck first
in 1880, to commemorate the fourteenth centenary of St. Benedict's birth.
Wonder what all the
symbols on the St. Benedict Medal are?
The front of the medal bears the
image of St. Benedict holding a Cross in his
right hand and the Holy Rule in the other. On one
side of St. Benedict is a Cup and on the other a
Raven.
Above these two are the words in Latin "Crux
Sancti Patris Benedicti" (Cross
of the Holy Father Benedict)
Round
the margin of the medal stands the legend:"Ejus in obitu
nro praesentia muniamur" (May
we at our death be fortified by his presence). The reverse of the
medal bears a cross with the initial letters of the words: "Crux
Sacra Sit Mihi Lux" (The Holy Cross be my light),
written downward on the perpendicular bar; the initial letters of the words,
"Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux" (Let
not the dragon be my guide), on the horizontal bar; and the initial
letters of "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" in the
angles of the cross. Round the margin stand the initial letters of the
distich: "Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana —
Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas" (Begone,
Satan, do not suggest to me thy vanities — evil are the things thou
profferest, drink thou thy own poison). At the top of the
cross stands the word Pax (peace).
**