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traumacatholic · 3 years

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For the early Christians, the cross was a favorite symbol and badge of their faith in Christ. From the writings of St. Gregory the Great (540-604), we know that St. Benedict had a deep faith in the Cross and worked miracles with the sign of the cross. This faith in, and special devotion to, the Cross was passed on to succeeding generations of Benedictines. Devotion to the Cross of Christ also gave rise to the striking of medals that bore the image of St. Benedict holding a cross aloft in his right hand and his Rule for Monasteries in the other hand. Thus, the Cross has always been closely associated with the Medal of St. Benedict, which is often referred to as the Medal-Cross of St. Benedict.

In the course of time, other additions were made, such as the Latin petition on the margin of the medal, asking that by St. Benedict’s presence, we may be strengthened in the hour of death, as will be explained later.

We do not know just when the first medal of St. Benedict was struck. At some point in history a series of capital letters was placed around the large figure of the cross on the reverse side of the medal. For a long time the meaning of these letters was unknown, but in 1647 a manuscript dating back to 1415 was found at the Abbey of Metten in Bavaria, giving an explanation of the letters. They are the initial letters of a Latin prayer of exorcism against Satan, as will be explained below.

On the face of the medal is the image of Saint Benedict. In his right hand (purple dot) he holds the cross, the Christian’s symbol of salvation. The cross reminds us of the zealous work of Benedictine monks and nuns evangelizing and civilizing England and Europe, especially for the sixth to the ninth/tenth centuries.

In St. Benedict’s left hand (small blue dot) is his Rule for Monasteries that could well be summed up in the words of the Prolog exhorting us to “walk in God’s ways, with the Gospel as our guide.”

On a pedestal to the right (right yellow dot) of St. Benedict is the poisoned cup, shattered when he made the sign of the cross over it. On a pedestal to the left (left yellow dot) is a raven about to carry away a loaf of poisoned bread that a jealous enemy had sent to St. Benedict.

Above the cup and the raven are the Latin words: Crux s. patris Benedicti (The Cross of our holy father Benedict) (two purple dots).

On the margin of the medal (yellow border), encircling the figure of Benedict, are the Latin words: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur! (May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death!). Benedictines have always regarded St. Benedict as a special patron of a happy death. He himself died in the chapel at Montecassino while standing with his arms raised up to heaven, supported by the brothers of the monastery, shortly after St. Benedict had received Holy Communion.

Below Benedict (large blue dot) we read: ex SM Casino MDCCCLXXX (from holy Monte Cassino, 1880). This is the medal struck to commemorate the 1400th anniversary of the birth of Saint Benedict.

On the back of the medal (blue cross), the cross is dominant. On the arms of the cross are the initial letters of a rhythmic Latin prayer: Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Nunquam draco sit mihi dux! (May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my guide!).

In the angles of the cross (four purple dots), the letters C S P B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti (The cross of our holy father Benedict).

Above the cross (top blue dot) is the word pax (peace), that has been a Benedictine motto for centuries.

Around the margin of the back of the medal (green border), the letters V R S N S M V – S M Q L I V B are the initial letters, as mentioned above, of a Latin prayer of exorcism against Satan: 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!)

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.

The above features were finally incorporated in a newly designed medal struck in 1880 under the supervision of the monks of Montecassino, Italy, to mark the 1400th anniversary of the birth of St. Benedict. The design of this medal was produced at St. Martin’s Archabbey, Beuron, Germany, at the request of the prior of Montecassino, Very Rev. Boniface Krug OSB (1838-1909). Prior Boniface was originally a monk of St. Vincent Archabbey, Latrobe, Pennsylvania, until he was chosen to become prior and latter archabbot of Montecassino. Since that time, the Jubilee Medal of 1880 has proven to be more popular throughout the Christian world than any other medal ever struck to honor St. Benedict.

Because the Jubilee Medal of 1880 has all the important features ever associated with the Medal of St. Benedict, the following description of this medal can serve to make clear the nature and intent of any medal of St. Benedict, no matter what shape or design it may legitimately have.

#Catholic #Catholicism #Christianity #Christian #Saint Benedict

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thiswaycomessomethingwicked · 3 years

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do you, per any chance, have a recommendation of a book/source of info about Anglo-Saxon culture and/or medieval Scandinavian? :'D

Apologies for the late reply! I meant to get to this last week.

I'm more familiar with early medieval/late iron-age Scandinavia, so most of the sources below will be on them, but there'll be a few Anglo-saxon things mixed in.

This has been my time to shine, I'm sorry for the deluge.

My quick and dirty "you're looking for one to two books":

1. The Viking World by Neil Price (anything he's written is good, though. I mention two others below)

2. Norse Mythology: a Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs, John Lindow

3. A collection of the Poetic Edda and Prose Edda

Primary Sources - Scandinavia and Anglo-Saxon England:

Writings of Ahmad ibn Fadlan

I love his accounts of his travels - but for your request, he has a very good description of the Volga Vikings with lots of "day in the life" sort of stuff. Getting English translations of his stuff outside of a university setting can be a bit tricky, but he's often referenced in a lot of secondary source material on early medieval Scandinavia

Poetic Edda - Codex Regius

The Poetic Edda is a collection of Old Norse poems, the main text being the Icelandic Codex Regius (c. mid-13th century, with over 30 of the Poetic Edda poems preserved).

Poetic Edda - non Codex Regius

The follow are parts of the Poetic Edda not contained in the Codex Regius, but you can find in general Poetic Edda compilations out today:

Baldrs Draumar (Baldr’s Dreams)

Gróttasöngr (The Mill’s Song, The Song of Grotti)

Rígsþula (The Lay of Ríg)

Hyndluljóð (The Lay of Hyndla)

Völuspá in skamma (The Short Völuspá)

Svipdagsmál (The Lay of Svipdag)Grógaldr (The Spell of Gróa) Fjölsvinnsmál (The Lay of Fjölsvid)

Hrafnagaldr Óðins (Odins’s Raven Song) - note, sometimes not included in compilations after 1900

Gullkársljóð (The Poem of Gullkár) - note, sometimes not included in compilations after 1900

Prose Edda

Compiled by Snorri in the early 13th century - contains stories of the gods, various aspects of Scandanavian mythology, a million and a half kennings, and various traditional aspects of skaldix poetry. It's very Christian in its leaning, as a note, because Snorri, like all compilors and editors, had an agenda.

Gesta Danorum

12th century history of Denmark, written by Saxo Grammaticus (which is absolutely not his real name). it's a very fanciful and patriotic, if one can use that word for the 12th century, account of Danish history - lots of legends, folklore, and mythology overlaying actual historical events.

Icelandic Sagas

Also known as the Family Sagas, are various sagas following skalds, families, famous peoples etc. in Iceland and related environs - there's an online database of them - one of the most famous people are familiar with is the Laxdæla saga.

Kvæði, or Faroese Ballads

Ballads from the Faroe islands - they're later ballads than like the sagas etc. but they demonstrate surviving Norse culture well past the conversion period.

Beowulf

Needs no introduction, I trust - Saemus Heaney's translation is generally reliable

Bede (i.e. Venerable Bede)

Bede was a seventh century Benedictine monk who is famous for his Historia ecclesiastica gentis Anglorum (Ecclesiastical history of the English peoples) - but he wrote on a variety of subjects and was incredibly prolific.

Anglo-Saxon Chronicle

Collection of annals about the history of the Anglo-Saxons. The original manuscript was most likely created/recorded sometimes in the 9th century, during the reign of Alfred the Great but you know. There are debates.

Secondary Sources on Medieval Scandinavia and/or Anglo-Saxon:

Children of Ash and Elm: a history of the Vikings, Neil Price

I recommend this as a good starter book - it's accessible in how its written, and he does a good job of complicating the image we have of medieval Scandinavian culture and peoples.

In general, most everything he's written is good and I'd recommend.

The Viking Way: Magic and Mind in Late Iron Age Scandinavia, Neil Price

Bit of a coffee table book in how its laid out, but very interesting read on things like seidr, relationships between the Norse and the Sami peoples, role of sex and gender in ritual traditions etc.

Norse Mythology: a Guide to the Gods, Heroes, Rituals, and Beliefs, John Lindow

What it says on the tin, but a good starter pack to the Norse mythological structure and insight into how they thought/viewed the world and their place in it

Tracing Old Norse Cosmology, Anders Andren

Another good book on the Norse conception of the world - like how did they think, see themselves, understand the world etc.

The Strathclyde and the Anglo-Saxons in the Viking Age, Tim Clarkson

An overview book that explores the relations between the kingdom of Strathclyde and Anglo-Saxon England in the 9-11th centuries

Rural Settlements and Society in Anglo-Saxon England, Helena Hamerow

An overview study of the change in social settlements in southern England in the Anglo-Saxon period.

Evergreen Ash: Ecology and Catastrophe in Old Norse Myth and Literature, Christopher Abram

Haven't read this yet but it's on my list and I'm super excited to tuck in

Words and Objects: Towards a Dialogue Between Archeology and History, Ed. Gro Steinsland

It's an essay collection exploring problems of sources and methods of interpretation as it relates to Scandinavian historical studies. Very interesting essays in here.

Identities and Cultural Contacts in the Arctic, eds. Martin Appelt, Joel Berglund, Hans Christian Gullov

More about the Sami, but does look at their relations with other peoples in northern Europe, including the Norse and Dannish etc.

Epic Space: Towards the Roots of Western Architecture, A.C. Antoniades

So not strictly speaking Scandinavian, but this work looks at the various epic writings of different cultures and what it tells us about the evolution of spatial concepts and architectural forms and identity. The reason I'm including it is that the book does discuss Viking Hall Culture and it provides some good insights.

Reading Old English Texts, Katherine O'Brien O'Keeffe

Essay collection which focuses on the different critical methods being used for reading and analysing old English texts (think Beowulf)

Lady with a Mead Cup: Ritual, Prophecy, and Lordship in the European Warband from La Tene to the Viking Age, Michael J. Enright

Super interesting work that focuses on early medieval cup-offering ritual and its social and religious significance - among other things.

Social Approaches to Viking Studies, ed. Ross Samson

Essay collection that provides an overview of different approaches to studying the early medieval Scandinavian world. Liv Dommasnes' essay "Women, Kinship, and the basis of power in the Norwegian Viking Age" is good.

Heaven and Earth in Anglo-Saxon England: Theology and Society in an Age of Faith, Helen Forbes

Investigation into the intense and important role that Christianity played in the development and growth of Anglo-Saxon culture and society

Social Identity in Early Medieval Britain, eds. Andrew Tyrell and William O. Frazer

Essay collection on social fabric and construct in early medieval period in England - the essays look at everything from kinship to gender to concepts of personhood and power etc.

Some General Medieval books:

The Inheritance of Rome: a History of Europe from 400 to 1000, Chris Wickham

Traces various peoples over the course of the fall of Western Roman empire through to the early-high middle ages. Covers the Goths, Franks, Rus, Arab peoples, Anglo-Saxons etc. etc. A good overview book.

The Years Without Summer: Tracing AD 536 and its Aftermath, Ed. Joel D. Gunn

I love ecological history, and this one looks into the "dust veil" and its impact on Europe and the crises of the 6th century

Sex and Gender in Medieval and Renaissance Texts: the Latin Tradition, ed. Barbara K. Gold, Paul A. Miller, and Charles Platter

focus on various latin texts and their engagement and representation of the feminine body - the ideological values contained therein, the different things that are encoded in the feminine etc.

Food and Rank in Early Medieval Time, Sven Isaksson

What it says on the tin - though he does touch on Viking food culture.

Love, Marriage and Family in the Middle Ages, ed. Jacqueline Murray

This is a typical reader on the medieval period - with a more Frankish focus than requested, but there's some stuff on Anglo-Saxon law and writings, also like... everything Augustine ever said on love/sex/marriage and that man never shut up

Everyman and Medieval Miracle Plays, ed. A.C. Cawley

A collection of medieval miracle plays - which provide a good idea of entertainment, as well as the poetic and dramatic traditions, of the world at that time.

Christians as the Romans Saw Them, Robert L. Wilken

I always like throwing this book into a rec' list as it's a great collection of different sources painting a portrait of a world in the middle of transition, as the Christian movement gained traction, from the point of view of the Romans. It's utterly fascinating.

"Piers the Ploughman," fourteenth century allegorical poem by William Langland (insert obligatory caveat about authorship debates)

This is a primary source, but it's 14th century England, so very post Norman conquest and all of that. Anyway, it's a poem that follows Piers' life, exploring ye age olde concepts of life in relation to destiny, spiritual journeys, etc. but there's also social satire and general commentary on life in the high middle ages.

#history #early medieval scandanavia #anglo-saxon england #medieval #ask #reply #anon #medieval period

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perditaswardrobe · 3 years

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10th Century Fantastic Beasts

by Ken Hazlett and Nat Lawson

Costume Description: Original design of the Hogwarts Founders from the Wizarding World of Harry Potter

Bio: We are cosplayers from Southern California who occasionally combine our cosplaying with our other pastime- surfing.

The Case of the Missing Founder (CLOSED)

By Epiphelia Holmes

Abstract: Circa 1010 common era (CE), Salazar Slytherin, learned magicker, scholar, world traveler, and basilisk breeder, disappeared. All wizarding histories, including the penultimate source on Hogwarts, Hogwarts, A History (Bagshot, 1905), note that Slytherin disagreed with the other three Founders on the teaching of magic to the Muggle-born, and thus, left Hogwarts, angry and disillusioned. Through dogged research and exhaustive detective work, the author of this paper reveals the true fate of Salazar Slytherin, and surprisingly, the fate of Rowen Ravenclaw, utilizing the early enchanted and startlingly lifelike paintings of Grimhilde of Bingen and Hildegard of Bingen, as well as accounts from Slytherin’s own newly discovered journal for Year 1032, 33, revealing the magicker as an avid naturalist of Fantastic Beasts, who extensively traveled the various routes of the Silk Road with Rowen Ravenclaw, after Ravenclaw’s ‘death’. Additionally, this article presents new evidence regarding a second Ravenclaw diadem, created after the infamous theft of the original artefact.

Excerpt from Section 1.3 History of the Artists:

Note: Artist history is primarily sourced from Vasari, 1569, unless otherwise noted.

Grimhilde of Bingen (b. 964 d. 1138), a most misunderstood woman of her time, largely due to an ungrateful stepdaughter widely known primarily for her snow white skin, was, in actuality, a writer, composer, mystic, and artist of the 10th century. Forced to leave her homeland, in the Rhine, due to the aforementioned stepdaughter and an unfortunate incident involving a huntsman and several angry miners, Grimhilde settled in the region of what is now Cornwall in England. Her many interests and skills led her to the creation of an enchanted paintbrush, which created paintings, so lifelike, they are nearly indistinguishable from the photographs of today.

Although Grimhilde’s paintings and writings became well known in the Wizarding world, her scholarly pursuits were not her only passion and she married and bore one daughter, also an artist, composer, and mystic. Grimhilde’s granddaughter, however, was born a Squib, which may have been what drove her to successes even beyond her mother and grandmother. Hildegard of Bingen (b. 1098 d. 1179) returned to her grandmother’s homeland as a young adult and became a German Benedictine abbess, a writer, a composer, a philosopher, a mystic, a visionary, a polymath, an artist, and is considered among Wizards and Muggles alike, to be the founder of scientific natural history in the Germanic region.

Among their many accomplishments, Grimhilde and Hildegard painted several important wizarding figures of their day, most notably, Salazar Slytherin and Rowen Ravenclaw. Grimhilde completed a series of paintings of the pair between 1026 and 1028. Hildegard, who inherited the enchanted brush, also painted Slytherin and Ravenclaw, circa 1132. These paintings, which show the two Founders, reunited, after Slytherin’s disappearance and Ravenclaw’s death as the witch, Rowena Ravenclaw, are masterfully created and provide a number of interesting facts regarding Slytherin’s mysterious disappearance from the school and Ravenclaw’s supposed death of a broken heart. The series of paintings of Slytherin and Ravenclaw by the two artists is known in the Wizarding art world as the dual Bingen series.

Excerpt from 2.1 Archival Research:

[…] No one in the Kavalier family possessed an ounce of magic any longer and thus, no one over the ages was able to decipher the ancient text, largely written in a combination of Middle Irish, Old Norse, Latin, and a code, possibly based on spoken Parseltongue. The journal, a simple leather book labeled “MXXXII, MXXXIII, A.D.”, containing sketches of strange beasts, was an unreadable text among nearly two dozen aged tomes, and almost universally ignored by the family over time. Indeed, until the late 1980s, when Mr. Clay Kavalier, a graphic novel artist, discovered the sketches of the Fantastic Beasts in the journal and used them as an inspiration for his drawings, the book was almost never opened. Mr. Kavalier’s highly accurate depictions of various Fantastic Beasts, found in a Muggle ‘comic book’, led the author of this article to the Slytherin journal, carefully stored and preserved by the Kavalier family, now, of Orange, California, USA. The authenticity of the journal was verified by the Historical Records Department, Ministry of Magic, in 2020.

[…] The depiction of the diadem in the dual Bingen series has long puzzled wizarding scholars, as it is widely known and accepted that Ravenclaw’s diadem was stolen by Helena Ravenclaw and hidden, only surfacing during the reign of He Who Must Not Be Named in the modern era. The original diadem possessed an oval blue jewel and “was said to grant wisdom to the wearer” (Bagshot, 1905). A description of the dual Bingen series diadem is included in Section 3.1; it is noted here, however, that the two artefacts are different. Considering the possibility that Ravenclaw crafted a second diadem, the author of this article researched Wizarding metalworkers of the 10th century, finally discovering among the preserved papers of Lillith Helmschmied, the most famous female Wizarding metalworker of the 10th and 11th centuries, a sketch of the diadem depicted in the dual Bingen series. Unfortunately, Helmschmied does not indicate if the new diadem possessed the same abilities as the original. If, as many scholars opine, Ravenclaw enchanted the jewel herself (Bagshot, 1905), it seems likely that the second jewel was also enchanted.

Excerpt from 3.1 Description of the Garb:

The dual Bingen series may be the most important depiction of any of the Founders completed to date. Not only is the garb consistent with 10th century fashions, and thus, likely representing one of the more accurate portrayals of the Founders, there are accents to the garb which offer insight into the Founders themselves. The paintings in the series were created nearly 100 years apart. Neither Founder appears to have aged between the sessions and both are garbed identically in all paintings in the dual series. There is agreement among experts that Hildegard likely created her paintings from sketches completed by Grimhilde.

Salazar Slytherin left Viking occupied lands, in what is now Ireland, as a young adult, and the garb the Founder wears in the paintings reflects the Founder’s roots in Viking Age Ireland. Salazar is painted wearing a green dress over a léine; the dress is heavily embroidered with Fantastic Beasts, including a zouwu, a demiguise (both visible and invisible), a phoenix, a unicorn, a manticore, an occamy, and a basilisk, all done in the style of the Book of Kells. One of the embroidery designs shows a kelpie, which are known to live in Black Lake, at Hogwarts. Snakes are embroidered over a border of Celtic knot work that runs along the base of the dress. The top of the dress and the top of the léine are both decorated with lace that incorporates Book of Kells style snakes. Salazar also wears a green coat, adorned with still more snakes. The paintings indicate that the Founder preferred fancy Wizarding fabrics and possessed an almost excessive flair. The coat is pinned with metal brooches to show off the dress embroidery and like many items made at the time, the base of the coat is lined with fur. From the painting, it is not possible to definitively ascertain the type of fur, but magi-biologists generally agree that it is likely Bodmin Moorcat (Challenger, 1899, Mirza et al., 2018).

Rowen Ravenclaw, who originated from the Kingdom of Alba (now, approximately the lowlands of Scotland), is painted in traditional Anglo-Saxon garb. Like Salazar, Rowen also wears fancy wizarding fabric unavailable to the Muggles of the time. Celtic style ravens are embroidered on the sleeves and around the keyhole opening of the long tunica. Chain embroidery winds around the ravens. Celtic knot work is embroidered along the base of the tunic. Consistent with Anglo-Saxon fashions, Ravenclaw is wearing short pants tucked into high socks that are secured with ties. Ravenclaw’s simple silver band diadem is completely consistent with Muggle styles of the day and contains the Celtic phrase, “Cíall gan chiomhsa • Maoin mór duini”, in a version of Gaelic spoken in Alba. The phrase approximates “Wit without limit: great treasure of Men”. According to Helmschmied, the band is made of silver and the words are stamped into the band. The jewel is noted as a sapphire and it is also set in silver. Rowen’s rich cloak is decorated around the base with silver trim and it is worn draped, similar to a Roman toga. Generally, Rowen’s garb is less decorated than Salazar’s garb. It is thought among some scholars that the Founder of the Ravenclaw House was more reserved than his Slytherin counterpart. The dual Bingen series would counter this idea.

Excerpt from 3.2 Description of the Fantastic Beasts

There are few records regarding the Fantastic Beasts depicted in the paintings, which include an occamy and a basilisk. Salazar’s journal records the names of both beasts who appear in the dual Bingen series and notes that the basilisk was one of three successful hatchings. The occamy is called Ocarina and the basilisk is King George. The occamy could be of any age, as occamy will grow or shrink to whatever size to occupy space, an ability they possess immediately after hatching. The basilisk is clearly a youngster, as it is small and still has wings, as compared to the centuries old and massively huge wingless basilisk found in the Chamber of Secrets at Hogwarts in 1992. Salazar’s journal does not include any dates for the hatchings and says nothing about the other two successful hatchings. The journal also does not offer any information regarding how Slytherin, Ravenclaw, and Grimhilde of Bingen all lived beyond the sketching and painting sessions involving the basilisk. As breeding of basilisks is currently illegal and has been illegal for centuries, very little is known about them. Magi-biologists generally agree that the most likely scenario is that the beast had either not yet developed any of the paralyzing or killing abilities possessed by the Chamber of Secrets basilisk or he was able to control his abilities (Verne, 1863, Challenger, 1891). Opinion is split regarding whether the basilisk himself decided against rampaging during the sessions or whether Salazar was able to train the beast (Mirza, 2020).

Excerpt from Appendix 2, The Bingen Wizarding Collection

[…] and in 1947, Ginger Bingen, used the ragged and worn set of paintbrushes to create her own series of Wizard paintings of Slytherin and Ravenclaw. Ginger Bingen’s paintings incorporate the last of her many times removed Great Aunt Grimhilde’s sketches and notes of her sessions with the two Founders. Experts do not agree on whether the paintings accurately reflect the two Founders, as the paintings have only recently been made public. For one, many say, the Founders are speaking modern English. Although the paintings were rumored to exist, the Bingen Wizarding collection remained in private hands until 2017. That year, the four paintings below were stolen from the estate of the last Bingen by a self-styled modern-day Robin Hood and hung in the toilet of Ye Olde Trip to Jerusalem (well known even among Muggles as the oldest pub in England), when the pub was closed for the night. As there were no heirs to the estate and no will, and no one really owned the paintings or knew what to do with them, they were left in place at the pub and secured with heavy charms and curses.

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#Comic-ConAtHome #Comic-ConAtHome2021 #Comic-ConAtHomeMasquerade #hogwartsfounders #hogwarts

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troybeecham · 3 years

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Today, the Church remembers St. Benedict of Nursia ( c. 2 March 480 A.D. – 543 or 547 A.D.)

Ora pro nobis.

Benedict founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, Lazio, Italy (about 40 miles (64 km) to the east of Rome), before moving to Monte Cassino in the mountains of southern Italy. The Order of Saint Benedict is of later origin and, moreover, not an "order" as commonly understood but merely a confederation of autonomous congregations.

Benedict's main achievement is his "Rule of Saint Benedict", containing precepts for his monks. It is heavily influenced by the writings of John Cassian, and shows strong affinity with the Rule of the Master. But it also has a unique spirit of balance, moderation and reasonableness, and this persuaded most religious communities founded throughout the Middle Ages to adopt it. As a result, his Rule became one of the most influential religious rules in Western Christendom. For this reason, Benedict is often called the founder of Western Christian monasticism.

He was the son of a Roman noble of Nursia,the modern Norcia, in Umbria. A tradition which Bede accepts makes him a twin with his sister Scholastica. If 480 A.D. is accepted as the year of his birth, the year of his abandonment of his studies and leaving home would be about 500 A.D. He was old enough to be in the midst of his literary studies, to understand the real meaning and worth of the dissolute and licentious lives of his companions, and to have been deeply affected by the love of a woman. He was at the beginning of life, and he had at his disposal the means to a career as a Roman noble.

Benedict was sent to Rome to study, but was dissatisfied by the life he found there. He does not seem to have left Rome for the purpose of becoming a hermit, but only to find some place away from the life of the great city. He took his old nurse with him as a servant and they settled down to live in Enfide. Enfide, which the tradition of Subiaco identifies with the modern Affile, is in the Simbruini mountains, about forty miles from Rome and two from Subiaco.

A short distance from Enfide is the entrance to a narrow, gloomy valley, penetrating the mountains and leading directly to Subiaco. The path continues to ascend, and it strikes in a rapid descent down to where, in Saint Benedict's day, 500 feet below, lay the blue waters of the lake. The cave has a large triangular-shaped opening and is about ten feet deep. On his way from Enfide, Benedict met a monk, Romanus of Subiaco, whose monastery was on the mountain above the cliff overhanging the cave. Romanus had discussed with Benedict the purpose which had brought him to Subiaco, and had given him the monk's habit. By his advice Benedict became a hermit and for three years, unknown to men, lived in this cave above the lake.

During these three years of solitude, broken only by occasional communications with the outer world and by the visits of Romanus, Benedict matured both in mind and character, in knowledge of himself and of his fellow-man, and at the same time he became not merely known to, but secured the respect of, those about him; so much so that on the death of the abbot of a monastery in the neighbourhood (identified by some with Vicovaro), the community came to him and begged him to become its abbot. Benedict was acquainted with the life and discipline of the monastery, and knew that "their manners were diverse from his and therefore that they would never agree together: yet, at length, overcome with their entreaty, he gave his consent".

The experiment failed; the monks tried to poison him. The legend goes that they first tried to poison his drink. He prayed a blessing over the cup and the cup shattered. Thus he left the group and went back to his cave at Subiaco. There lived in the neighborhood a priest called Florentius who, moved by envy, tried to ruin him. He tried to poison him with poisoned bread. When he prayed a blessing over the bread, a raven swept in and took the loaf away. From this time his miracles seem to have become frequent, and many people, attracted by his sanctity and character, came to Subiaco to be under his guidance. Having failed by sending him poisonous bread, Florentius tried to seduce his monks with some prostitutes. To avoid further temptations, in 530 A.D., Benedict left Subiaco.

He founded 12 monasteries in the vicinity of Subiaco, and, eventually, in 530 A.D., he founded the great Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino, which lies on a hilltop between Rome and Naples.

During the invasion of Italy, Totila, King of the Goths, ordered a general to wear his kingly robes and to see whether Benedict would discover the truth. Immediately the Saint detected the impersonation, and Totila came to pay him due respect.

He died of a fever at Monte Cassino not long after his sister, Saint Scholastica, and was buried in the same place as his sister. According to tradition, this occurred on 21 March 543 or 547 A.D.. He was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964.In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared him co-patron of Europe, together with Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Anglican Christianity has been described as being profoundly rooted in the fertile soil of St. Benedict’s Rule, which can be most readily discerned in our Book of Common Prayer.

Almighty and everlasting God, your precepts are the wisdom of a loving Father: Give us grace, following the teaching and example of your servant Benedict, to walk with loving and willing hearts in the school of the Lord’s service; let your ears be open to our prayers; and prosper with your blessing the work of our hands; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever.

Amen.

#christianity #jesus #god #saints #monastic #father troy beecham #troy beecham episcopal #father troy beecham episcopal

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spiritualdirections · 4 years

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To the monk heaven was next door; he formed no plans, he had no cares; the ravens of his father Benedict were ever at his side. He "went forth" in his youth "to his work and to his labour" until the evening of life; if he lived a day longer, he did a day's work more; whether he lived many days or few, he laboured on to the end of them. He had no wish to see further in advance of his journey than where he was to make his next stage. He ploughed and sowed, he prayed, he meditated, he studied, he wrote, he taught, and then he died and went to heaven. ... Here the beautiful character in life and death of St. Bede naturally occurs to the mind, who is, in his person and his writings, as truly the pattern of a Benedictine as is St. Thomas [Aquinas] of a Dominican.

John Henry Newman, “The Mission of St. Benedict”, on the Venerable Bede, making reference to the famous account of Bede’s death in the monk Cuthbert’s letter to the monk Cuthwin.

#bede #john henry newman #Benedictine essays #benedictine spirituality #bucket list

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soccerstl · 7 years

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Benedictine Ravens Advance to NAIA National Championship with strong Missouri Representation

Logan Heacock (IWA), Tori Sanders (IWA) and Kat Reis (Nerinx) will play for the 2017 NAIA National Title December 2, 2017 For the first time in program history, the Benedictine Raven Women’s Soccer team will be playing for an NAIA National Tournament Championship as they secured their spot with a 1-0 win over William Carey University on Friday afternoon at the Orange Beach Sportsplex (video…

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#Abbie Hair #Anna Romano #Ashley Rehagen #Benedictine Ravens #Incarnate Word Academy Red Knights #Isabella Wilhelm #Jefferson Roblee #Kat Reis #Lincoln Roblee #Logan Heacock #NAIA Womens Soccer #Nerinx Hall Markers #Sydney Routh #Tori Sanders #Wm. Jewell Cardinals

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marialeto · 2 years

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Ascended Master and Tarot Card of the Day

August 30th, 2022

Tuesday

Anahita Mya

4 Directions of the Wind

Anahita Mya’s essential oil blend consists of 4 essential oils, 4 drops each

Black Spruce, Rose, Lemon, Neroli

Purity

Anahita Mya’s divinely blessed braided intention, prayer, and meditation bracelet is made of 3 strands of yarn.

Medium Blue for Waters High

Black for Waters Mighty

Red for Waters Immaculate

Message: Purity brings you sustainable life.

The gemstone is Onyx

Half and Half Meadows cream coffee

💙🖤❤️

Today, the planet of the day is Mercury, the number is Two, the flavor is Half and Half milk cream, color is White, ray of light is White, and flame is White. The candle is Cream. The Elohim is Spirit, God is Erica, Saint is Bootes, Goddess is Cancer, Being of Light is Robin, Angel of the day is Emily, The spirit animal is Elephant, gemstone is Onyx, the place is Hael, element is Wood, star is Russia, chakra is Solar Plexus, it is the day of the Angels, day of Multicosmos, the divinity is feminine, and the theme is Gifts. The country is United Arab Emirates.

Anahita Mya is the Ascended Master

The song of the day is Lumen Hilare by Monks of the Wandrille De Fontenelle Monastery

Album: A Treasury of Gregorian Chants

Monks of Benedictine Abbey

Christian 1967

Song #47

Today the moon is Waxing Crescent

Moonrise today 9:32 AM set 9:13 PM in Libra

Sunrise 6:14 AM

Sunset 7:30 PM

In Virgo Sun

TAROT CARD 💙🖤❤️

Vishnu

Trust

From the Ascended Masters deck by Doreen Virtue

The message today is that we trust that the universe is conspiring in our favor. It serves us each to reach out to the divine to support us. The divine truly sees us as perfect no matter the extenuating circumstances of our life at any given moment. When we are in the physical, we are at times bound in our life. No matter what the negative sees, we are doing what is necessary to bring to fruition all of our desires and needs. We are supported and loved by something greater than us. Call upon your guides and angels, feel that knowing encompass you, and then witness the life circumstances that validate your trusting stance. Always feel blessed no matter what.

Notes for today: Purity, Persia, Blue Calcite, peacock, Kwan Yin, Health, Wellness, Tuesday, Gym.

Notes:

Onyx

An ancient magical meaning protection and fortune. It tends to strike a chord in the hearts of many. It is used in meditation and premonitions, as well as prophecy.

It assist with focus and strength. As well as the root and solar plexus chakras.

Posted in the picture today is also a raven in Onyx which carries some of the same similar qualities. (The Raven)

Elephant

Their qualities include patients, wisdom, strength, loyalty, and strong family bond.

When they are here it is the meaning of sensitivity, nurture, compassion, value, and commitment.

United Arab Emirates

Peace, Quality, Health, Sacredism, old fashioned markets, and museums.

The photo of the day is:

Chicago Hotdogs

Multicosmos

Street Scene

Chicago, Illinois

Street Fare

Street food, Chicago, family meeting place, fresh lemonade, hotdogs, relish, lemon cream pie, relish, route 66, coffee, tea time, Dolminade’, UAE, attractions, white ray of light, transcendence.

Keyword of the day is accuracy.

#inspiration #coffee #photography #art #life #energy #tarot

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pamphletstoinspire · 6 years

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SACRAMENTAL'S - The Most Indulged Medal - The Jubilee Medal OF Saint Benedict of Nursia

With Image:

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/sacramentals-most-indulged-medal-jubilee-saint-benedict-baines/?published=t

SACRAMENTAL'S - EXPLANATION BELOW Sacramental's are material objects, things or actions (sacramentalia) set apart or blessed by the Roman Catholic Church to manifest the respect due to the Sacraments, and so to excite good thoughts and to increase devotion, and through these movements of the heart to remit venial sin, according to the council of Trent (Session XXII, 15). Sacramental's excite pious dispositions, by means of which the faithful may obtain grace. It is not the sacramental itself that gives grace, but the devotion, love of God, or sorrow for sin that it inspires, and the prayers of the Church that render sacramental's efficacious against evil. Only the Sacraments give grace of themselves and are always fruitful when the faithful place no spiritual obstacles in the way. The Sacraments were instituted by Jesus Christ; but not all of the sacramental's were instituted by the Church.

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The Front of The Medal - Left Image - St. Benedict stands on a pedestal, a shepherd’s crook in his arm, holding the cross of Jesus in his right hand and his famous Rule in his left. On his right side we see the poisoned cup that could not kill him and on his left an image of the raven that fed him. (Caption for linked image)

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THE MEDAL PRAYER

No particular prayers are prescribed, for the very wearing and use of the Medal is considered a silent prayer to God to grant us, through the merits of St. Benedict, the favors we request. However, for obtaining extraordinary favors, it is highly recommended to perform special devotions in honor of the holy Father St. Benedict. For example, on Tuesdays, the day the Church commemorates his death, the Way of The Cross is highly recommended.

A suggested prayer that may be said using the Medal for any pious purpose is: “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.

A PRAYER TO ST. BENEDICT FOR A HAPPY DEATH

“O Holy Father, St. Benedict, blessed by God both in grace and in name, who, while standing in prayer, with hands raised to heaven, didst most happily yield thy angelic spirit unto the hands of thy Creator, and hast promised zealously to defend against all the snares of the enemy in the last struggle of death, those who shall daily remind thee of thy glorious departure and heavenly joys; protect me, I beseech thee, O glorious Father, this day and every day, by thy holy blessings, that I may never be separated from our dear Lord, from the society of thyself, and of all the blessed!. Through the same Christ our Lord.” Amen .

St. Benedict himself revealed to St. Gertrude-a Benedictine nun - that: “whoever reminds me of the extraordinary privilege with which God deigned to glorify my last moments, shall experience my particular assistance in his final combat. I will be a faithful protector against the assaults of the enemy. Fortified by my presence, he will escape the snares of the evil one and safely attain eternal happiness.”

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EVENTS SURROUNDING THE MEDAL

St. Benedict of Nursia, Italy (AD 480-543), the twin brother of St. Scholastica, is considered to be the Father of Western Monasticism. “ The Rule of St. Benedict” came to be the basis of organization for many religious orders (his own Order has its cradle at Monte Cassino, Italy, about 80 miles south of Rome).

In order to understand the symbology of the Medal and why it is so powerful you must know this event in St. Benedict’s life: he’d been living as a hermit in a cave for three years, famous for his holiness, when a religious community came to him after the death of their abbot and asked Benedict to take over. Some of the “monks” didn’t like this plan and attempted to kill him with poisoned bread and wine. When St. Benedict made the Sign of the Cross over these items, he came to know they were poisoned, so he toppled the cup and commanded a raven to carry off the bread.

The Sign of the Cross which St. Benedict performed on the bread and wine is the basis for the medal being struck.

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WHY WEAR THE JUBILEE MEDAL

The medal should be blessed by a Benedictine priest because there are many indulgences attached to the medal as well as being a very powerful sacramental with exorcizing properties written right on it. It appears strange that a medal should be made and blessed; and possess so much power against the wicked spirits. Holy Scripture gives us abundant instructions upon the ever-busy power of the devils, and the dangers we, as humans, are exposed both in soul and body, by the snares they set for us. St. Paul teaches us that the air is filled with legions of wicked spirits. (Eph. ii2,vi12)

It is only by the power of the Holy Cross that these spirits are overcome. The brazen serpent raised up in the desert by Moses is a figure of the Cross (St. John iii, 14) while the blood of the Paschal Lamb marked the house-doors of the Israelites and preserved them from the destroying angel. (Exod xii 23) St. Athanasius, a church doctor writes “The sign of the Cross has the power of dispelling all the secret charms of magic, and of rendering harmless all the deadly draughts it employs...the snares of Satan are laid for us on every side... and now applying these considerations to the medal...we come to the conclusion, that... with faith the medal of St. Benedict on occasions...its protection will infallibly prove efficacious in every kind of temptation...we may also employ it in favor of others as a means of preserving or delivering them from dangers.

The following is a partial list of the many pious purposes of the Medal of St. Benedict:

1. It wards off from both the soul and the body all dangers arising from the devil

2. The Medal is powerful in obtaining for sinners the grace of conversion

3. It obtains protection and aid for persons tormented by the evil spirit, and in temptations against holy purity

4. It procures assistance in the hour of death

5. It has often proved an efficacious remedy for bodily sufferings, and a means of protection against contagious diseases

6. Expectant mothers have obtained special assistance for a safe delivery

7. In time of storms, tempests and other dangers on land and sea it has been found to be a protection

8. Even domestic animals have been visibly aided by it when infected with disease

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THE “TOTIES QUOTIES” INDULGENCE

A great privilege connected with the Jubilee Medal by the decree of the Sacred Congregation of Indulgences, Feb. 27, 1907, extends a Toties Quoties plenary indulgence on All Souls Day, Nov. 2nd.

By virtue of this decree, all who habitually wear the Jubilee Medal can gain a plenary indulgence for the Poor Souls in Purgatory “as often as” (Toties Quoties) they visit any Catholic Church or public oratory and pray according to the intention of the Holy Father and receive the Sacraments either on All Saints’ or on All Souls’ Day. Where there is a Benedictine church within one mile of your own church, the visits must be made to the Benedictine church. One need leave the church for only a few minutes between visits.

This Great Indulgence for the Poor Souls may be gained from twelve o’clock noon on All Saints’ Day until twelve o’clock midnight on All Souls’ day. For thirty-six hours you may gain as many plenary indulgences as you make visits.

OTHER PLENARY INDULGENCES

Other plenary indulgence may be gained with the medal under the following conditions:

1. The wearing of the Jubilee Medal;

2. The usual confession and communion;

3. A visit to a church;

4. Prayers for the Pope and for the conversion of sinners

Some of the many plenary indulgences attached to the medal are:

 The feasts of Our Lord: Christmas; Easter; Pentecost; Epiphany (Jan. 6th); Ascension; Trinity Sunday; Corpus Christi;

 Feasts of the Blessed Virgin: The Immaculate Conception (Dec. 8th); Nativity of the Blessed Virgin (Sept. 8th); Purification-Candlemas Day (Feb..2nd); The Annunciation (Mar. 25th); The Assumption (Aug. 15th).

 Principal Feasts of the Benedictine Order: St. Mauras (Jan. 15); St. Scholastica (Sister of St. Benedict Feb. 10th); St. Benedict (Mar. 21st);

Dedication of the Basilica of Monte Cassino (Oct. 1st); St. Placidus (Oct. 15th); All Saints of the Order (Nov. 13th); and St. Gertrude (Nov. 16th).

Use of the Medal

No special way of carrying or applying the Medal is prescribed. It may be worn about the neck, attached to a scapular, Rosary, or, otherwise carried about one’s person.

Often it is placed in the fields, the foundations of buildings or attached to automobiles to call down God’s blessing and the protection of St. Benedict. As already noted, no particular prayer is prescribed, as wearing it is a continual silent prayer.

__________

Click below for:

The Jubilee Medal OF Saint Benedict of Nursia

https://docs.wixstatic.com/ugd/a84285_cd77890ac9944e8eaa97c965bef55737.pdf

#jubilee medal of st benedict

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that-pissed-off-tolkien-blogger · 7 years

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The Cadfael Chronicles by Ellis Peters All titles listed in chronological order. There are 20 novels and three short stories in one compilation book (A Rare Benedictine). Yes, I do have two copies of A Morbid Taste for Bones. This is because the first copy (the one book with no style match) is a signed edition and not a book I want to tote around outside of the house. (Fun fact: I stole this book from my HS library and gave them a brand new one in return.) TCC bibliography with setting (s.) and publication (p.) dates 1) A Morbid Taste for Bones (s. 1137, p. 8/1977) 2) One Corpse Too Many (s. 8/1138, p. 7/1979) 3) Monk's Hood (s. 12/1138, p. 8/1980) 4) Saint Peter's Fair (s. 7/1139, p. 5/1981) 5) The Leper of Saint Giles (s. 10/1139, p. 8/1981) 6) The Virgin in the Ice (s. 11/1139, p. 4/1982) 7) The Sanctuary Sparrow (s. spring of 1140, p. 1/1983) 8) The Devil's Novice (s. 9/1140, p. 8/1983) 9) Dead Man's Ransom (s. 2/1141, p. 4/1984) 10) The Pilgrim of Hate (s. 5/1141, p. 9/1984) 11) An Excellent Mystery (s. 8/1141, p. 6/1985) 12) The Raven in the Foregate (s. 12/1141, p. 2/1986) 13) The Rose Rent (s. 6/1142, p. 10/1986) 14) The Hermit of Eyton Forest (s. 10/1142, p. 6/1987) 15) The Confession of Brother Haluin (s. 12/1142, p. 2/1988) --) A Rare Benedictine: The Advent of Brother Cadfael (s. 1120, p. 9/1988) 16) The Heretic's Apprentice (s. 6/1143, p. 2/1989) 17) The Potter's Field (s. 8/1143, p. 9/1989) 18) The Summer of the Danes (s. 4/1144, p. 4/1991) 19) The Holy Thief (s. 2/1145, p. 8/1192) 20) Brother Cadfael's Penance (s. 11/1145, p. 5/1994)

#TOLK Man talks #cadfael #mystery #ellis Peters #used books #cadfael chronicles #not tolkien #medieval mystery

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lakelandg · 5 years

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SEU Fire Edged in Season Opening Top-Five Battle by Ravens

In what was a highly-touted early season NAIA top-five showdown, the No. 3 Southeastern University women’s soccer team was edged by the No. 5 Benedictine College Ravens 4-3 in the second overtime session.

The Ravens struck first in the offensive bout, netting a goal in the seventh minute.

The Fire answered with a familiar name. Senior forward Uchenna Kanu, the reigning NAIA-leading goal…

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bccraycenter · 5 years

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Raven Call (V)

Where’s resilience?

Writing in the American Conservative, Casey Chalk offers an intriguing perspective on the loss of resilience.

In a one succulent sentence Chalk sums up the issue.

“Whereas once we understood that suffering made a man, today we have safe spaces and trigger warnings to avoid pain at all costs.”

From religious institutions to educational institutions to modern workplaces, we have lost our collective “thick skin.”

How do we get it back?

One way to develop “thick skin” at the collegiate level is participating in entrepreneurial endeavors.

Entrepreneurial endeavors, such as entrepreneur clubs, allow for “manageable discomfort.”

Recognizing manageable discomfort is a critical skill for the 21st century.

The more experience you have with managing discomfort, the stronger the resilience path.

Embrace the journey to thicker skin!

David W. Bryant, Ph.D.

Cray Center for Entrepreneurial Services

Benedictine College

@BCCrayCenter

#bccraycenter

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anastpaul · 7 years

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Saint of the Day – 11 July – St Benedict of Nursia O.S.B. – Abbot Patron of Europe (Patronus Europae) – Also known as: Benedict of Narsia, Benedict of Norsia, Benedetto da Norcia, Founder of Western Monasticism – (c 480, Narsia, Umbria, Italy – 21 March 547 of a fever while in prayer at Monte Cassino, Italy). He buried beneath the high altar there in the same tomb as Saint Scholastica. He was Canonised in 1220 by Pope Honorius III.

Patronages: -Against poison -Against witchcraft -Agricultural workers -Cavers -Civil engineers -Coppersmiths -Dying people -Erysipelas -Europe -Farmers -Fever -Gall stones -Heerdt (Germany) -Heraldry and Officers of arms -the Institute of Christ the King Sovereign Priest -Inflammatory diseases -Italian architects -Kidney disease -Monks -Nettle rash -Norcia, (Italy) -People in religious orders -Schoolchildren and students -Servants who have broken their master’s belongings -Speleologists -Spelunkers -Temptations

Attributes: -Bell -Broken tray -Broken cup and serpent representing poison -Broken utensil -Bush -Crosier -Man in a Benedictine cowl holding Benedict’s rule or a rod of discipline -Raven

Benedict was born into a distinguished family in central Italy, studied at Rome and early in life was drawn to monasticism. At first he became a hermit, leaving a depressing world—pagan armies on the march, the Church torn by schism, people suffering from war, morality at a low ebb.

He soon realised that he could not live a hidden life in a small town any better than in a large city, so he withdrew to a cave high in the mountains for three years. Some monks chose Benedict as their leader for a while, but found his strictness not to their taste. Still the shift from hermit to community life had begun for him. He had an idea of gathering various families of monks into one “Grand Monastery” to give them the benefit of unity, fraternity and permanent worship in one house. Finally he began to build what was to become one of the most famous monasteries in the world—Monte Cassino, commanding three narrow valleys running toward the mountains north of Naples.

The Rule that gradually developed prescribed a life of liturgical prayer, study, manual labor, and living together in community under a common abbot. Benedictine asceticism is known for its moderation, and Benedictine charity has always shown concern for the people in the surrounding countryside. In the course of the Middle Ages, all monasticism in the West was gradually brought under the Rule of St. Benedict.

Today the Benedictine family is represented by two branches: the Benedictine Federation encompassing the men and women of the Order of St. Benedict and the Cistercians, men and women of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.

St Benedict died at Monte Cassino not long after his sister, Saint Scholastica. Benedict died of a high fever on the day God had told him he was to die and was buried in the same place as his sister. According to tradition, this occurred on 21 March 543 or 547. He was named patron protector of Europe by Pope Paul VI in 1964. In 1980, Pope John Paul II declared him co-patron of Europe, together with Saints Cyril and Methodius.

Rule of Saint Benedict

Seventy-three short chapters comprise the Rule. Its wisdom is of two kinds: spiritual (how to live a Christocentric life on earth) and administrative (how to run a monastery efficiently). More than half the chapters describe how to be obedient and humble and what to do when a member of the community is not. About one-fourth regulate the work of God (the Opus Dei). One-tenth outline how and by whom, the monastery should be managed.

Following the golden rule of Ora et Labora – pray and work, the monks each day devoted eight hours to prayer, eight hours to sleep and eight hours to manual work, sacred reading, or works of charity

Saint Benedict Medal

On the front of the medal is Saint Benedict holding a cross in his right hand, the object of his devotion and in the left his rule for monasteries. In the back is a poisoned cup, in reference to the legend of Benedict, which explains that hostile monks attempted to poison him: the cup containing poisoned wine shattered when the saint made the sign of the cross over it (and a raven carried away a poisoned loaf of bread). Above the cup are the words Crux sancti patris Benedicti (“The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict”). Surrounding the figure of Saint Benedict are the words Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur! (“May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death”), since he was always regarded by the Benedictines as the patron of a happy death.

On the back is a cross, containing the letters C S S M L – N D S M D, initials of the words Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Non [Nunquam?] draco sit mihi dux! (“May the holy cross be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord!”). The large 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, in reference to Vade retro satana: 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!”) and finally, located at the top is the word PAX which means “peace”

Use of the Medal - There is no special way prescribed for carrying or wearing the Medal of St. Benedict. It can be worn on a chain around the neck, attached to one’s rosary, kept in one’s pocket or purse, or placed in one’s car or home. The medal is often put into the foundations of houses and building, on the walls of barns and sheds, or in one’s place of business.

The purpose of using the medal in any of the above ways is to call down God’s blessing and protection upon us, wherever we are and upon our homes and possessions, especially through the intercession of St. Benedict. By the conscious and devout use of the medal, it becomes, as it were, a constant silent prayer and reminder to us of our dignity as followers of Christ.

A profitable spiritual experience can be ours if we but take the time to study the array of inscriptions and representations found on the two sides of the medal. The lessons found there can be pondered over and over to bring true peace of mind and heart into our lives as we struggle to overcome the weaknesses of our human nature and realize that our human condition is not perfect, but that with the help of God and the intercession of the saints our condition can become better.

The Medal of St. Benedict can serve as a constant reminder of the need for us to take up our cross daily and “follow the true King, Christ our Lord,” and thus learn “to share in his heavenly kingdom,” as St. Benedict urges us in the Prologue of his Rule.

(via AnaStpaul – Breathing Catholic)

#stbenedict #july11stbenedict #stbenedictrule #stbenedictmedal #catholic #catholicism

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troybeecham · 4 years

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Today, the Church remembers St. Benedict of Nursia ( c. 2 March 480 A.D. – 543 or 547 A.D.)

Ora pro nobis.

He founded 12 monasteries in the vicinity of Subiaco, and, eventually, in 530 A.D., he founded the great Benedictine monastery of Monte Cassino, which lies on a hilltop between Rome and Naples.

Anglican Christianity has been described as being profoundly rooted in the fertile soil of St. Benedict’s Rule, which can be most readily discerned in our Book of Common Prayer.

Amen.

#father troy beecham #christianity #troy beecham episcopal #jesus #father troy beecham episcopal #saints #god #salvation #peace #monasticism

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