Meet Saint Benedict
TikTok, Facebook and Instagram are full of reels from popular exorcists like Msgr. Rossetti and Fr. Dan Reehil who are using new technologies to help people understand the spiritual realm and heal from oppression. The Feast of St. Benedict is on July 11th. And not unlike the popular exorcists of today, Saint Benedict helped heal large numbers of people who came to him for spiritual advice.
He lived a short 67 years, dying around 547 AD. Frustrated with the corruption of the world and its influence on the life of the Church, Benedict sought peace, prayer and Christian community in the mountains outside Rome. His simple life of prayer, work and hospitality ended up being a radical rebellion against the forces of darkness. Saint Benedict’s quiet and loving life built upon the teachings of Christ worked miracles among his followers, renewed the Church, and transformed the world.
Benedict's Exorcisms
Benedict's way of life continues to bring profound blessings to the Church today - more than 1500 years after he lived. It's no surprise the devil did everything in his power to stop him.
St. Benedict's battles against the evil one came early. When he was a young hermit living in a cave, the devil first tried to thwart his ascetic life by taking away his food. Benedict would receive bread lowered to the cave by a Monk who would ring a bell on a pulley system to alert the young saint. The devil kept breaking the system and the monks had to find another way to feed Benedict - only getting food to him every few weeks. This did not stop Benedict from sacrificing and praying.
The devil then began to tempt him spiritually. Whenever he would pray, he started to be tormented with lustful thoughts for a woman. Benedict realized this as an attack and threw himself into stinging nettles and a briar bush to subdue the temptation with penances.
Soon thereafter, the devil knowing he couldn't take Benedict's soul, sought to take his life. He entered a jealous monk whom he directed to poison Benedict's wine cup. But, when the saint offered his prayer of blessing and did the sign of the cross over the cup, it shattered. Another man, filled with envy, poisoned a loaf of bread. A raven swept down and took the bread from Benedict's hands.
God was protecting Saint Benedict.
When he was ready, he started receiving large numbers of followers from around the Roman Empire who wanted to live like him. Benedict is famous for his corrections and exorcisms of these men - helping many of them to achieve holiness too. One monk, tormented by a demon, could not sit still in prayer. Benedict approached him and struck him with his staff, hitting the demon within him. The demon immediately left him. The monk never suffered troubles praying after that.
Benedict didn't just help his monks. Through the hospitality of his monasteries, wealthy Romans would come and visit the saint seeking advice. A young Roman was possessed and desirous of power and prestige. Saint Benedict exorcised him and advised him never to seek status or position but to work humbly stating that the day he seeks orders will be the day the devil returns.
Benedict's holiness and example has persisted long after his death. A few hundred years after he died, there was a trial of a witch in Germany who claimed she was unable to curse an Abbey protected by the cross and seal of Benedict.
Exorcists today use the cross of St. Benedict in the healing ministry of exorcism. Many recommend that Christians place this cross in their homes or wear it on their bodies as a reminder of the protection of Christ and Saint Benedict against diabolical influence.
What is the Benedict Medal?
The Saint Benedict Holy Medal is a tangible reminder to the Church of the gift of St. Benedict to each of us. At the center of the medal is a cross (the foundation of St. Benedict’s life), inscribed upon it is a declaration to a life of holiness, exorcism prayers in Latin to dispel evil, and the image of St. Benedict and his rule of peace. The Latin states:
- “Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux” ("May the Holy Cross be my light")
- “Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux” ("Let not the dragon be my guide")
The Church recommends Christians place this cross in their homes or wear it on their bodies as a reminder of the protection of Christ and the saints against spiritual illness and diabolic influence.
The Spiritual Warfare Collection
We recommend you order a Benedictine medal for your family members. Check out these durable and inexpensive Benedictine Medal options for men, women and kids and browse the rest of the Saint Benedict and Spiritual Warfare Collection.
Browse the Collection
St. Benedict, Pray for us!