Benedict is the patron saint of monks and missions.
This St Benedict medal is sterling silver, about the size of a quarter. The front of the saint medal depicts St Benedict holding the cross in his right hand. In his left hand, the 'Rule for monastics'. On a pedestal to the right of Benedict is the poisoned cup, shattered when he made the sign of the cross over it. On the left, a raven about to carry away a poisoned bread that a jealous enemy had sent to Benedict. In small letters above the cup and raven are the Latin words, Crux s. patris Benedicti, meaning, the Cross of our holy father Benedict. Encircling Benedict, Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur, (may we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death). Below Benedict, ex MS Casino MDCCCLXXX (from holy Monte Cassino, 1880) the year the medal was created, to commemorate the 1400th anniversary of Benedict's birth.
The medal comes on a 24 inch endless chain, packaged in a green velvet textured gift box.