By Becky Roach
Though St. Benedict was born in 480 A.D., he is certainly a Saint for our times. He was a man of strength, conviction, and courage. Although he desired to live a life of solitude by choosing the life of a hermit and living in a cave, when word of his holiness and devout life reached the nearby monks, they persuaded him to oversee to become their abbot. Once there, the monks did not like St. Benedict’s strict rule of life and he faced many adversaries (including surviving an attempt to poison him!).
St. Benedict stayed strong in spite of his trials. He gathered his strength from the Lord. He lived in a world that seemed to be crumbling around him, yet St. Benedict stood against the culture of his time with love and faithfulness to the Gospel.
He inspired many people to convert to Christianity because of his devotion. We can look to him as our example of how to reach a generation that often seems far away from God.
Why should I wear a St. Benedict Medal?
The medal is a way to obtain God’s blessings and protection through the intercession of St. Benedict. Wearing it is a way to remind ourselves of our life in Christ and the promises of heaven. It is a form of prayer and yet another way we can incorporate God into our daily lives.
According to the Order of St. Benedict, “The medal is a prayer of exorcism against Satan, a prayer for strength in time of temptation, a prayer for peace among ourselves and among the nations of the world, a prayer that the Cross of Christ be our light and guide, a prayer of firm rejection of all that is evil, a prayer of petition that we may with Christian courage ‘walk in God’s ways, with the Gospel as our guide,’ as St. Benedict urges us.”
After reading that powerful description of the prayer of the St. Benedict Medal, I am sure that you will agree it is a “weapon” Christians need in our day and age. We are faced with evil and temptation. Anything we can use to help us in our battle will encourage and strengthen us in our fight!
Where can I get a St. Benedict Medal?
Most local Catholic bookstores and gift shops sell the St. Benedict Medal because it is a very popular devotion among Catholics due to the effectiveness of protection against evil and temptation. You can also order beautiful handmade Benedictine necklaces and bracelets from My Saint My Hero . You’ll love this Catholic company that creates faith-based jewelry and serves a mission to empower women by employing them to make these “wearable blessings“.