Explanation ,History and Exorcism Blessing of Saint Benedict's Medal

The St. Benedict's medal is one of the most famous and powerful symbols of the Catholic faith, but what does it stand for and what do all those symbols mean? Here we will explain the medal and also give you the prayers needed for the blessing of the St. Benedict medals.





Front of the St. Benedict Medal:

St. Benedict is seen holding a cross in his right hand and his Rule of St. Benedict in his left hand.

To his right is a poisoned cup which symbolizes the attempts to poison him and the miracles which saved him. To his left, is the raven which flew away with a poisoned loaf.

Above the poisoned cup and raven are the words Crux sancti patris Benedicti ("The Cross of [our] Holy Father Benedict").

Surrounding the front of the medal 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 as the patron of a happy death.


Back of the St. Benedict Medal:

On the cross area of the back of the medal are the letters C S S M L - N D S M D, 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 4 circles containing the letters C S P B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti ("The Cross of our Holy Father Benedict").

Circling around the medal are the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B, the initials of the words 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!").

At the top is the more familiar word PAX which means "peace".



Brief History of the St. Benedict Medal

The medal is derived from an original symbol of St. Benedict of Nursia who lived during the 6th century. He created the Rule of St. Benedict which among other things taught how to be obedient and humble. During his life as a monk and abbot, there were several attempts to murder him through poison but each time a miracle occurred to spare him. Because of more and more miracles that became associated with St. Benedict, he became a very popular figure in his time.




The medal of St. Benedict combines a depiction of the original figure of St. Benedict of Nursia created during the time of Pope Leo IX (11th century), along with symbols which were seen on the medal again in the 17th century. It was formally approved in 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV. The modern medal in use today was first struck in 1880.




Why is St. Benedict so popular?

This saint medal is clearly rich in meaning and excels at warding off evil spirits as a sacramental. Many have been carrying and wearing St. Benedict medals for years, and thousands of miracles are attributed to St. Benedict through the intercession of these medals throughout the world. It excels in warding off evil and has often been called "the devil chaser".



Blessings for the Medal of St. Benedict



Our help is in the name of the Lord Our Father.



Response: Who made heaven and earth.




In the name of God the Father + Almighty, Who made heaven and earth, the sea and all that is in them, I exorcise these medals against the power and attacks of the evil one. May all who use these medals devoutly be blessed with health of soul and body. In the name of the Father + Almighty, of His Son + Jesus Christ our Lord, and of the Holy + Spirit the Paraclete, and in the love of the same Lord Jesus Christ Who will come on the last day to judge the living and the dead.




Response: Amen.




Let us pray. Almighty God, the boundless Source of all good things, we humbly ask that, through the intercession of St. Benedict, Thou pourest out Thy blessings + upon these medals. May those who use them devoutly and earnestly strive to perform goods works be blessed by Thee with health of soul and body, the grace of a holy death, and remission of temporal punishment due to sin. May they also, with the help of Thy merciful love, resist the temptations of the evil one and strive to exercise true charity and justice toward all, so that one day they may appear sinless and holy in Thy sight. This we ask through Christ our Lord.




Response: Amen.




The medals may then be sprinkled with holy water.

Act of Entrustment of the Home to Mary Help of Christians

Act of Entrustment of the Home to Mary Help of Christians

Most Holy Virgin Mary, appointed by God to be the Help of Christians, we choose you as the Mother and protectress of our home.

We ask you to favor us with your powerful protection.

Preserve our home from every danger: from fire, flood, lightning, storm, earthquake, thieves, vandals, and from every other danger.

Bless us. Protect us. Defend us.

Keep as your own all the people who dwell in this home.

Protect them from all accidents and misfortunes,

but above all obtain for them the most important grace of avoiding sin.

Mary Help of Christians, pray for all those who live in this home,

which is entrusted to you for all time. Amen.

Saint John Neuman

 

St. John Neuman

January 5

John Neumann was born in Prachatice in Bohemia (now the Czech Republic) on March 28, 1811. He studied theology in the seminary of Budweis. Zealous for the missionary life and to lead souls to Christ, he decided to leave his homeland to dedicate himself to the European immigrants in America, who were deprived of spiritual support.

Neumann was ordained a priest by the bishop of New York in June 1836, and gave himself to the pastoral care of people in the vast area around Niagara Falls.

Wanting to live in a religious community that corresponded more to his missionary vocation, in January 1842 he entered the Redemptorists. A tireless missionary, Neumann busied himself in particular with the German immigrants, first in Baltimore, then in Pittsburgh.

Having filled the role of vice-provincial superior of the Redemptorists from 1846-49, he became the parish priest of St. Alphonsus Church in Baltimore. In 1852, at the age of 41, he was named bishop of Philadelphia.

Neumann had a strong effect on the religious life of the United States by founding Catholic schools and promoting devotion to the Eucharist. He founded a new religious institute—the Third Order of Saint Francis of Glen Riddle. The School Sisters of Notre Dame likewise regard Neumann as their secondary founder, their “Father in America.” In just seven years, he built 89 churches, as well as several hospitals and orphanages. As a bishop, Neumann was untiring in visiting his vast diocese.

On January 5, 1860, at the age of 48, he died suddenly of a heart attack on a Philadelphia street. Neumann was beatified during the Second Vatican Council on October 13, 1963, and was canonized on June 19, 1977. In the homily on the occasion of Neumann’s canonization, Pope Paul VI summarized the activity of the new saint: “He was close to the sick, he loved to be with the poor, he was a friend of sinners, and now he is the glory of all emigrants.”

St. John Neumann is invoked as a patron of sick children and of immigrants.

PRAYER TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP

PRAYER TO OUR MOTHER OF PERPETUAL HELP 🙏

Oh Mother of Perpetual Help, grant that I may ever invoke your powerful name, the protection of the living and the salvation of the dying. Purest Mary, let your name henceforth be ever on my lips. Delay not, Blessed Lady, to rescue me whenever I call on you. In my temptations, in my needs, I will never cease to call on you, ever repeating your sacred name, Mary, Mary.

What a consolation, what sweetness, what confidence fills my soul when I utter your sacred name or even only think of you! I thank the Lord for having given you so sweet, so powerful, so lovely a name. But I will not be content with merely uttering your name.

Let my love for you prompt me ever to hail you Mother of Perpetual Help

Mother of Perpetual Help, pray for me and grant me the favor I confidently ask of you. (Then say three Hail Marys) 🙏

New Year Offering Prayer To Mary Mother of God

The Solemnity of Mary, the Holy Mother of God

is a feast day of the Blessed Virgin Mary under the aspect of her motherhood of Jesus Christ, whom she had circumcised on the 8th day, according to the Levitical Law.

Prayer 

Heavenly Father, You blessed the Virgin Mary with the fullness of grace. She is my model of faith, hope, and love. I give this New Year to her intercession and ask for her holy prayers. Place my needs into the protection of her motherly love. With her help, I want my faith to grow. Give me an increase in the virtue of hope when troubles tempt me to despair. Guide me in understanding Your infinite love, and join my heart, dear Lord, to the Holy Mother's Immaculate Heart, so that I may improve in loving everyone unconditionally, in imitation of my Savior, Jesus. Amen.

EPIPHANY BLESSING

Epiphany - also known as Three Kings' Day - is a Christian festival, which starts on 6 January. It is a special date in the Christmas story as it's when people celebrate how a star led the Magi - also known as the Three kings or the Wise Men - to visit the baby Jesus after he had been born.  - Wikipedia 


The Epiphany of the Lord


One tradition celebrated by many families:

Using chalk, write "20+C+M+B+22" on the outside of your house or inside above the front main entrance, above or next to an entrance. Details below:

––––––––––––––––––––––––




EPIPHANY BLESSING




20 + C + M + B + 22




The letters C, M, B have two meanings:




• They are the initials of the traditional names of the three magi: Caspar, Melchior, and Balthazar.




• They also abbreviate the Latin words:

Christus mansionem benedicat,

“May Christ bless the house.”




• The “+” represent the cross and 2021 is the year.




All make the Sign of the Cross.




Leader: Peace be to this house and to all who dwell here, in the name of the Lord.




All: Thanks be to God.




Reader:

When Jesus was born in Bethlehem of Judea, in the days of King Herod, behold, magi from the east arrived in Jerusalem, saying, “Where is the newborn king of the Jews? We saw his star at its rising and have come to do him homage.” After their audience with the king they set out. And behold, the star that they had seen at its rising preceded them, until it came and stopped over the place where the child was. They were overjoyed at seeing the star, and on entering the house they saw the child with Mary his mother. They prostrated themselves and did him homage. Then they opened their treasures and offered him gifts of gold, frankincense, and myrrh. And having been warned in a dream not to return to Herod, they departed for their country by another way.




The word of the Lord.




All: Thanks be to God




Using chalk, write on the outside of your house or inside above the front main entrance, above or next to an entrance:




20 + C + M + B + 22




All: Lord God of heaven and earth, you revealed your only begotten Son to every nation by the guidance of a star. Bless this house and all who live here and all who visit. May we be blessed with health, kindness of heart, gentleness and the keeping of your law. Fill us with the light of Christ, that our love for each other may go out to all. We ask this through Christ our Lord.



Amen.

Powerful Prayer for Protection

Dear Heavenly Father, full of grace and love,
I ask your angels to send protection from above.


Please protect my mind, body and spirit from illness and abuse.
Divert ill will and evil intentions from myself and others who wish to do me harm. Keep me safe all my days and extend this protection to all whom I love. Amen


Amen.

Prayer For A New Beginning

Heavenly Father,

I am about to embark on new beginnings as I face an end to this chapter of my life.

So, I ask that You lead and direct me as I go through new challenges.

Father, will You stay close to me so that I do not stray from You. You are my Good Shepherd and I am Your sheep; so help me to keep my eyes fixed on You as I trust You in all things.

Grant me provision for all that I need, in order to start this new journey, through the directing of Your Holy Spirit.

Thank You Father, Amen.

— Psalm 22:11, John 10:11, Hebrews 12:2

PRAYER FOR THE NEW YEAR

May the Lord make my New Year a happy one...




Not by shielding me from sorrow and pain, but by strengthening me to bear it if it comes.




Not by making my path easy, but by making me sturdy enough to tread any path.




Not by taking hardship from me, but by taking all cowardice and fear from my heart as I meet hardships.




Not by granting me unbroken sunshine, but by keeping my face bright even in the shadows.




Not by making my life always pleasant, but by showing me where men and His cause need me most and by making me zealous to be there and to help...



God, make my year a happy one.




— from Guideposts magazine

Holy Innocents Day

Innocents Day 

HOLY INNOCENTS DAY -DECEMBER 28

The day commemorates the execution of the innocent, male children in Bethlehem as told in Matthew 2:16. Also known as the Feast of the Holy Innocents (and referred to as Childermas), the day refers to King Herod's order found in Matthew's account of the king's reaction to the fulfillment of the Old Testament prophecy.

Massacre of the Innocents is the incident in the nativity narrative of the Gospel of Matthew (2:16–18) in which Herod the Great, king of Judea, orders the execution of all male children two years old and under in the vicinity of Bethlehem. The Catholic Church regards them as the first Christian martyrs, and their feast – Holy Innocents' Day (or the Feast of the Holy Innocents) – is celebrated on 28 December.

According to the New Testament, Holy Innocents’ Day was the massacre of some 20,000 boys, two years old and below. It was ordered by a furious King Herod more than 2,000 years ago, after he learned that he was tricked by the Three Kings, whom he asked to drop by at his Palace in Bethlehem so he would go with them to visit the newly born child, Jesus Christ. But deep inside Herod was his sinister plot to kill Baby Jesus, whom he considered a rival to his throne. 

In the reading of Matthew 2:16-18, it says: “When Herod realized that the visitors (Three Kings) from the East tricked him, he was furious. He gave orders to kill all the boys in Bethlehem and neighborhood who were two years old and younger.

Matthew also wrote that the Holy Family fled to Egypt after “an angel of the Lord appeared in a dream to Joseph and said, ‘Herod will be looking for the child in order to kill him. So get up, take the child and his mother and escape to Egypt, and stay there until I tell you to leave.”

According to the Gospel of Matthew, Herod ordered the execution of all young male children in the vicinity of Bethlehem, so as to avoid the loss of his throne to a newborn King of the Jews, whose birth had been announced to him by the Magi.

The slain children were regarded by the early church as the first martyrs, but it is uncertain when the day was first kept as a saint’s day. It may have been celebrated with Epiphany, but by the 5th century it was kept as a separate festival. In Rome it was a day of fasting and mourning.