Saint Benedict Medal, Struck For 1400th Aniversary of Birth of Saint Benedict, Enamelled Bronze By Desedirious Lenz 1880 Extremely Rare
A beautifully struck Benedictine medal which is crisp and clear and in amaxing condition for such a rare medal.
Peter Lenz (1832–1928), afterwards Desiderius Lenz, was a German artist who became a Benedictine monk. Together with Gabriel Wüger, he founded the Beuron Art School.
The front of this lovely medal is inscribed CRUX S P Bened which stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedict or The Cross Of Saint Benedict. Here Saint Benedict is pictured holding a cross.
The Saint Benedict Medal originally came from a cross in honor of St Benedict.
On one side, the medal has an image of St Benedict, holding the Holy Rule in his left hand and a cross in his right. There is a raven on one side of him, with a cup on the other side of him. What differentiates this medal from other Benedictine medals is that this one has the Roman numerals MDCCCLXXX at the foot of Saint Benedict which shows it was struck for the 1400th Jubilee of the brith of Saint Benedict. Other jubilee medals exist but this one is unique in that it is enamelled and made by Lenz. I have never seen another one.
The other side of the medal has a cross with the initials CSSML on the vertical bar which signify "Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux" ("May the Holy Cross be my light") and on the horizontal bar are the initials NDSMD which stand for "Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux" ("Let not the dragon be my overlord").
The initials CSPB stand for "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" ("The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict") and are located on the interior angles of the cross. Either the inscription "PAX" (Peace) or the Christogram "IHS" may be found at the top of the cross in most cases.
Around the medal's margin on this side are the Vade Retro Satana initials VRSNSMV which stand for "Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana" ("Begone Satan, do not suggest to me thy vanities") then a space followed by the initials SMQLIVB which signify "Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas" ("Evil are the things thou profferest, drink thou thy own poison").
It is a Christian sacramental medal containing symbols and text related to the life of Saint Benedict of Nursia, used by Roman Catholics, as well as Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and the Western Orthodox, in the Benedictine Christian tradition, especially votarists and oblates.
The medal is one of the oldest and most honored medals used by Christians and due to the belief in its power against evil is also known as the "devil-chasing medal". As early as the 11th century, it may have initially had the form of Saint Benedict's cross, and was used by pope Leo IX.
The reverse side of the medal carries the Vade retro satana ("Step back, Satan") formula which has been used by Christians to ward off evil since the 15th century. Sometimes carried as part of the rosary, it is also found individually.
In widespread use after its formal approval by pope Benedict XIV in the 18th century, the medal is used by Roman Catholics to ward off spiritual and physical dangers, especially those related to evil, poison, and temptation.
The medal measures 2 cm in diameter.
A beautifully struck Benedictine medal which is crisp and clear and in amaxing condition for such a rare medal.
Peter Lenz (1832–1928), afterwards Desiderius Lenz, was a German artist who became a Benedictine monk. Together with Gabriel Wüger, he founded the Beuron Art School.
The front of this lovely medal is inscribed CRUX S P Bened which stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedict or The Cross Of Saint Benedict. Here Saint Benedict is pictured holding a cross.
The Saint Benedict Medal originally came from a cross in honor of St Benedict.
On one side, the medal has an image of St Benedict, holding the Holy Rule in his left hand and a cross in his right. There is a raven on one side of him, with a cup on the other side of him. What differentiates this medal from other Benedictine medals is that this one has the Roman numerals MDCCCLXXX at the foot of Saint Benedict which shows it was struck for the 1400th Jubilee of the brith of Saint Benedict. Other jubilee medals exist but this one is unique in that it is enamelled and made by Lenz. I have never seen another one.
The other side of the medal has a cross with the initials CSSML on the vertical bar which signify "Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux" ("May the Holy Cross be my light") and on the horizontal bar are the initials NDSMD which stand for "Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux" ("Let not the dragon be my overlord").
The initials CSPB stand for "Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti" ("The Cross of the Holy Father Benedict") and are located on the interior angles of the cross. Either the inscription "PAX" (Peace) or the Christogram "IHS" may be found at the top of the cross in most cases.
Around the medal's margin on this side are the Vade Retro Satana initials VRSNSMV which stand for "Vade Retro Satana, Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana" ("Begone Satan, do not suggest to me thy vanities") then a space followed by the initials SMQLIVB which signify "Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas" ("Evil are the things thou profferest, drink thou thy own poison").
It is a Christian sacramental medal containing symbols and text related to the life of Saint Benedict of Nursia, used by Roman Catholics, as well as Anglicans, Lutherans, Methodists and the Western Orthodox, in the Benedictine Christian tradition, especially votarists and oblates.
The medal is one of the oldest and most honored medals used by Christians and due to the belief in its power against evil is also known as the "devil-chasing medal". As early as the 11th century, it may have initially had the form of Saint Benedict's cross, and was used by pope Leo IX.
The reverse side of the medal carries the Vade retro satana ("Step back, Satan") formula which has been used by Christians to ward off evil since the 15th century. Sometimes carried as part of the rosary, it is also found individually.
In widespread use after its formal approval by pope Benedict XIV in the 18th century, the medal is used by Roman Catholics to ward off spiritual and physical dangers, especially those related to evil, poison, and temptation.
The medal measures 2 cm in diameter.
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