Overview

• Catholics commemorate July 11 as the feast of St. Benedict of Nursia, patron of Europe and founder of Western monasticism.
• The current form of the St. Benedict medal was authorized in 1880 by the abbot of Monte Cassino to mark the saint’s 1400th birthday anniversary.
• The medal is officially classified as a sacramental that disposes believers to divine grace and is inscribed with Latin exorcism formulas.
• Faithful participants recite prescribed prayers invoking St. Benedict’s intercession for spiritual and physical protection.
• Wearers of the blessed medal may obtain a plenary indulgence on July 11 after fulfilling the conditions of confession, communion and prayer for the pope’s intentions.