Many people look for the prayer of Saint Benedict without knowing that it is written, letter by letter, on the back of his medal. It is the famous “Vade retro, Satana,” a short and ancient prayer to reject evil and ask for the light of the Cross. Here we provide it in full, in Latin and Spanish, along with how to pray it and what you should know to pray it properly.
Looking for your medal? See our Saint Benedict medals, designed by us and handmade in Spain.
A prayer hidden in a medal
The medal does not feature phrases, but initials, which a manuscript from the Abbey of Metten (Bavaria) allowed to be deciphered in the 17th century. We explain where each letter goes in the meaning of the Saint Benedict medal, and its history in who was Saint Benedict of Nursia. Here we focus on praying it.
The complete prayer of Saint Benedict, in Latin and Spanish
This is the formula formed by the initials, with the usual Spanish translation:
Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux,
Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux.
May the Holy Cross be my light,
may the devil not be my guide.
Vade Retro Satana,
Numquam Suade Mihi Vana.
Sunt Mala Quae Libas,
Ipse Venena Bibas.
Step back, Satan,
do not advise me vain things.
Evil is what you offer me,
drink your own poison.
On the Cross, also: Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti, “Cross of the Holy Father Benedict.” On the obverse of many medals, especially the old ones: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur, “that at the hour of our death his presence may protect us.” Above, PAX (“peace”), the Benedictine motto, or the monogram of Jesus, IHS.
On some medals you will see Non Suade instead of Numquam Suade: the meaning is the same.
How to pray it
There is no mandatory way; it is short, so it can be repeated at any time. Some simple customs:
- With the medal in your hand, tracing the Cross and the letters with your finger.
- When leaving home in the morning, or before a trip.
- In the face of temptation or an evil thought: it is enough to say “Vade retro, Satana” from the heart.
You can make the sign of the cross, pray it in Latin or Spanish, and end with an Our Father.
Khartes Medals
To pray it with your medal in your hand
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A prayer of protection to Saint Benedict
If you prefer to speak to him in your own words, this is our version, in case it is useful to you:
Saint Benedict, who placed all your trust in the Cross of Christ, intercede for me and mine. Remove from our home and from our path all evil, all temptation, and all deception. May the Holy Cross be our light in all we do today, may we live in peace, and at the hour of our death, may your presence protect us. Amen.
The “prayer against evil”: a prayer of faith, not a spell
Tradition calls this formula an exorcism prayer; hence it is sought as the “prayer of Saint Benedict against evil.” It is a rejection of evil done with faith, which any Christian can say. It is not an exorcism rite, which in the Church is only performed by a priest with his bishop's license, nor a formula that works on its own.
The Church makes it clear. The Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy, when speaking about the medals (n. 206), reminds that they should never be regarded as a talisman, and warns (n. 15) that symbolic gestures, without faith inside, can degenerate into empty customs or superstition. The Benedictines also reject using it as if it had magical power. The medal is not an amulet: it is a reminder of faith, and the prayer makes sense when it is joined to a life that tries to resemble that of Christ.
And the prayer of Saint Benedict for money?
It is a frequent search, and we understand it: behind it there is usually work that does not come through or concern about the home. You can ask Saint Benedict for work and for the needs of the family, just as you ask for health or for an exam. His Rule is summarized in ora et labora, pray and work. What there is not is a magic formula that brings money: it is a prayer of trust, not a deal.
Wearing his medal to always carry his devotion
The medal reminds you of the prayer every time you touch it, and the prayer gives it meaning. There is no prescribed way to wear it; the best-known customs are:
- Around the neck, with its chain, or on the wrist with a bracelet.
- In the pocket or in the bag, to always have it at hand.
- In the car, as company on trips.
- At home or at the workplace; and some even place it in the foundations when building a new house.
If it is for a baby, we tell you the tradition of the Saint Benedict medal in the cradle. And if you doubt whether to bless it or how to wear it, see our guide to the Saint Benedict medal.
Khartes Medals
His devotion, always with you
Saint Benedict medal with amethyst€65I want it
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We design them and they are handmade in Spain by the workshops and enamel artists we work with, with Spanish chains too. If you give it as a gift, write your message in the product page and we will write it by hand on a card, for free: for example, “May the Holy Cross be your light.”
Frequently asked questions
What is the prayer of Saint Benedict?
It is the Latin formula whose initials are on his medal: “Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux, Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux; Vade Retro Satana, Numquam Suade Mihi Vana; Sunt Mala Quae Libas, Ipse Venena Bibas.” In Spanish: may the Holy Cross be my light, may the devil not be my guide; step back, Satan, do not advise me vain things; evil is what you offer me, drink your own poison.
Can it be prayed in Spanish?
Yes. The original formula is in Latin, but praying it in Spanish has the same meaning. The important thing is to pray it with faith.
Does the Saint Benedict medal protect by itself?
No. The Church reminds that a medal should never be taken as a talisman. It is a sign of faith that reminds you of God and the intercession of Saint Benedict, and accompanies the prayer, it does not replace it.
Do you need to carry the medal to pray the prayer?
It is not necessary: the prayer can be prayed without a medal. But carrying it helps to keep his devotion in mind all day, and many people pray it with it in their hand.
Facts you can check
- The inscriptions on the medal, its translation, and the phrase Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur, according to the Benedictine Abbey of Silos, which also collects the Metten discovery and the approval of Benedict XIV in 1742. Source
- The Benedictines explain that there is no prescribed way to wear it (around the neck, in the pocket or bag, in the car, at home, or in the foundations of a building) and reject using it as if it had magical power. Source
- The Directory on Popular Piety and Liturgy, from the Holy See, warns of the risk that symbolic gestures degenerate into empty customs or superstition (n. 15) and treats the medals in n. 206. Source
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Marian and Bárbara