Available in 3 Sizes
Diameter : 12 mm, 16 mm and 18 mm
Material
750 Italy Gold
Made in Italy
Note
- Come with faux-leather box
- Please bear in mind that photo may slightly different from actual item in terms of color due to the lighting during photo shooting or the monitor's display.
St Benedict's Gold Medal
Italy is a powerhouse in the European jewelry industry and is well-known for its yellow gold jewelry and classical designs. The long tradition originated from the Etruscans, an ancient people of Italy, dated back 3000 years ago. Because of the tradition and beauty associated with gold from Italy, jewelry from this nation is highly prized. Most gold jewelry in Italy is sold as 18 karat gold or higher, usually marked in the European markate of 750.
Italy is much appreciated for the classical jewelry designs, combinining trusted quality of gold with exquisite design offering outstanding level of creativity and workmanship in every motifs and design. Italian artisans exceed every expectation when it comes to crafting traditional pieces, especially in religious items such as medals, bracelets, rosaries, crucifix, communion wares, and tabernacles.
We, in Avila, bring renowned Italian design and quality in our religious products to our customers. Each products offer you detailed expression of religious figures and are suitable for both personal use or for gifts.----------
During his life, St. Benedict was known to work many miracles using the power of the Holy Cross. Among these included his heroic flight from temptations and miraculous escapes from traps set to kill him.
Saint Benedict became known for his power over the Devil, with the Holy Cross as his efficacious instrument to make the Devil flee. The St. Benedict medal is based on this tradition.
The medal as we commonly know it today (the Jubilee medal) was first made in 1880 to commemorate the fourteenth centenary anniversary of St. Benedict's birth by the Archabbey of Monte Cassino, the most important monastery established by the Saint in the 6th century.
On the front of the medal is St. Benedict holding a cross and his rule. To one side is a poisoned cup and a raven on the other―both references to a Benedictine hagiography mentioned earlier. Above the cup are the words:
Crux sancti patris Benedicti
(The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict)
Surrounding St. Benedict are the words:
Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur!
("May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death")
This is a reference to the saint being a Patron of a Happy Death along with St. Joseph. On the back is a cross with the letters C S S M L - N D S M D. these are the initials of the words:
Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Non draco sit mihi dux!
("May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord!")
The larger letters, C S P B, stand for:
Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti
("The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict").
Surrounding the back of the medal are the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B which refer to the prayer of the Rite of Exorcism:
Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana!
Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas!
("Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities!
What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!")
Finally, at the top is the word PAX which means "peace."