St. Benedict is the patron saint of a happy death, monks, missions, the homeless, monastics, and poisoning. His feast day is celebrated each year on April 16. This St. Benedict medal is sterling silver and 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 is the a copy of the book the 'Rule of Benedict' by which he founded Western monasticism. 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 St. 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 are the words, '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), which is the year the medal was created to commemorate the 1400th anniversary of Benedict's birth. On the back of the medal is the typical depiction of a cross, the word 'Pax,' meaning 'peace,' and the first letter of each word from a prayer of exorcism. The St. Benedict medal comes on a 24 inch endless chain, packaged in a green velvet textured gift box.