Many people wear small round or oval medals with images of saints on a chain, on their keyring or in the car. But what do the images and letters on them mean? In this article we introduce the three best-known Christian medals: the St Benedict medal, the Miraculous Medal and the St Christopher medal. You will also find out what separates a medal from a good-luck charm.
What is a Christian medal?
A Christian medal is a small piece of metal with a religious motif: Christ, Mary, a saint or a cross, often with an inscription. In the Catholic Church, blessed medals count among the sacramentals. These are signs that recall God’s closeness and accompany prayer.
A medal does not work by itself and is not a talisman. It is a profession of faith that you carry with you, and a quiet reminder to entrust yourself to God. Whoever wears it also asks the saint depicted for their intercession.
The St Benedict medal
The St Benedict medal goes back to St Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism. Its widespread present form was struck in 1880 at Monte Cassino for the 1400th anniversary of the saint’s birth.
The front
It shows Benedict with a cross in his right hand and his Rule in his left. Beside him there is often a cup from which a snake is crawling, and a raven with a loaf of bread. Both recall legends according to which Benedict escaped an attempt to poison him. The inscription reads, in essence: “May his presence strengthen us in the hour of our death.”
The back
On the back is a cross with the initial letters of Latin prayer words. On the cross are C S S M L and N D S M D: “Crux sacra sit mihi lux, non draco sit mihi dux”, may the holy cross be my light, let not the dragon be my guide. Around the edge are V R S N S M V S M Q L I V B, a brief renunciation of evil. At the top there is usually the word PAX, peace, the motto of the Benedictines.
Many people wear the St Benedict medal as a pendant or have it as a plaque in the car. We offer it, for example, as a St Benedict plaque with magnet, as a gold and enamel keyring or on the cross necklace with St Benedict medal. You can read more about the saint in the Saints’ Lexicon: St Benedict of Nursia.
The Miraculous Medal
The Miraculous Medal is one of the most widespread Marian medals in the world. It goes back to the religious sister Catherine Labouré, who in 1830 in Paris reported apparitions of the Mother of God. The medal was struck from 1832. It received its name because reports of answered prayers soon spread.
The front
Mary stands on the globe, and rays stream from her open hands. The inscription reads: “O Mary, conceived without sin, pray for us who have recourse to thee.”
The back
It shows an M with a cross above it, and beneath it two hearts: the Heart of Jesus with the crown of thorns and the Heart of Mary, pierced by a sword. Twelve stars surround the image.
The Miraculous Medal is often given for a christening, First Holy Communion or to the sick. In our range you will find it, among other things, on the blue and silver Marian necklace, as a keyring and on the rosary in light wood. We tell the whole story in the Saints’ Lexicon: Miraculous Medal.
The St Christopher medal
St Christopher is the patron saint of travellers. On his medal he carries the Child Jesus on his shoulder through a river, often with a staff in his hand. Some medals also bear words such as “Gute Fahrt” (“safe journey”) or “Komm gut heim” (“come home safely”).
As a plaque with a magnet, the St Christopher medal has belonged in the car for decades. But you can also wear it on a chain. Examples are the St Christopher car medal in an antique finish and the stainless steel St Christopher medal with chain. Our guide St Christopher on Journeys and on the Camino shows which variant suits whom.
Medal, plaque or pendant?
- Medal on a chain: worn on the body, a very personal sign.
- Plaque: a medal with a magnet or adhesive strip, for the car, fridge or toolbox.
- Keyring: always with you, without having to wear it.
- On the rosary: Many rosaries have a medal as the centrepiece.
Blessed medals at LUNEXUS
In the Catholic understanding, a medal becomes a sacramental through blessing. Many, but not all, of our medals and plaques are blessed in our own warehouse by a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Fulda. A certificate card in business-card size showing the date of the blessing is then included. Whether an item is blessed is stated in its title or description. You will find all the blessed pieces in the Blessed Items collection, and plaques in Magnets and Medals.
How do you wear a medal?
A medal is usually worn on a chain around the neck, often under clothing. Some wear it together with a cross on the same chain. If you do not like jewellery, hang it on your keyring, put it in your wallet or fix it as a plaque in the car. What matters is not the place but that the medal reminds you of prayer in everyday life, for example when you put it on in the morning.
Frequently asked questions
What do the letters on the St Benedict medal mean?
They are the initial letters of Latin prayer words. C S S M L and N D S M D stand for “Crux sacra sit mihi lux, non draco sit mihi dux”: may the holy cross be my light, let not the dragon be my guide.
Why is the Miraculous Medal called that?
Shortly after it was first struck in 1832, reports of answered prayers spread, especially during a cholera epidemic in Paris. That is where the name comes from. It does not carry any guarantee of miracles.
Can a non-Catholic wear a medal?
Yes. A medal is a sign of faith and can be worn by anyone who wishes to express trust in God with it.
Is a medal a good-luck charm?
No. A Christian medal is not a charm. It recalls God and the intercession of the saints and accompanies prayer.
Written by Denis & Belinda. We run LUNEXUS and are happy to answer your questions personally on +49 30 2178 2502 (German and English) or at hallo@lunexus.world.
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