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Question Title	Posted By	Question Date
about St. Benedict medal	Kay	Thursday, October 4, 2007
Question: Hello- I would like to know if the St. Benedict medal absolutely needs to have the blessing of a Beneditine monk or is a blessing from a priest sufficient? I have had these medals presented and blessed by our parish priest, and he did bless them, knowing what it was, so is this blessing effective for the promises attached to this medal ?( such as excorsim prayer on medal, protection...etc.) Thank you- Kay
Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM Dear Kay: St. Benedict Medals do not need to be blessed by a Benedictine Priest. A priestly blessing is a priestly blessing, thus the medals you had blessed by your parish priest are indeed blessed. The Benedictine Order, however, who has the authority to govern over issues of the medal suggest a specific formula of blessing. Here is the information from the website of the Benedictine Order: Approved Blessing of the Medal of St. Benedict Medals of Saint Benedict are sacramentals that may be blessed legitimately by any priest or deacon -- not necessarily a Benedictine (Instr., 26 Sept. 1964; Can. 1168). The following English form may be used. V. Our help is in the name of the Lord. R. Who made heaven and earth. In the name of God the Father + almighty, who made heaven and earth, the seas 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 the 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, and the world by fire. Amen. Let us pray. Almighty God, the boundless source of all good things, we humbly ask that, through the intercession of Saint Benedict, you pour out your blessings + upon these medals. May those who use them devoutly and earnestly strive to perform good works be blessed by you with health of soul and body, the grace of a holy life, and remission of the temporal punishment due to sin. May they also with the help of your merciful love, resist the temptation 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 your sight. This we ask though Christ our Lord. Amen. The medals are then sprinkled with holy water. While any blessing will do, this approved blessing is the preferred blessing and the one officially approved by the Benedictine Order. God Bless, Bro. Ignatius Mary For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.

Question Title

Posted By

Question Date

about St. Benedict medal

Kay

Thursday, October 4, 2007

Question:

Hello- I would like to know if the St. Benedict medal absolutely needs to have the blessing of a Beneditine monk or is a blessing from a priest sufficient?

I have had these medals presented and blessed by our parish priest, and he did bless them, knowing what it was, so is this blessing effective for the promises attached to this medal ?( such as excorsim prayer on medal, protection...etc.)

Thank you-
Kay

Question Answered by Bro. Ignatius Mary, OLSM

Dear Kay:

St. Benedict Medals do not need to be blessed by a Benedictine Priest. A priestly blessing is a priestly blessing, thus the medals you had blessed by your parish priest are indeed blessed.

The Benedictine Order, however, who has the authority to govern over issues of the medal suggest a specific formula of blessing.

Here is the information from the website of the Benedictine Order:

Approved Blessing
of the Medal of St. Benedict
Medals of Saint Benedict are sacramentals that may be blessed legitimately by any priest or deacon -- not necessarily a Benedictine (Instr., 26 Sept. 1964; Can. 1168). The following English form may be used.

V. Our help is in the name of the Lord.
R. Who made heaven and earth.
In the name of God the Father + almighty, who made heaven and earth, the seas 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 the 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, and the world by fire.
Amen.
Let us pray. Almighty God, the boundless source of all good things, we humbly ask that, through the intercession of Saint Benedict, you pour out your blessings + upon these medals. May those who use them devoutly and earnestly strive to perform good works be blessed by you with health of soul and body, the grace of a holy life, and remission of the temporal punishment due to sin.
May they also with the help of your merciful love, resist the temptation 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 your sight. This we ask though Christ our Lord.
Amen.
The medals are then sprinkled with holy water.

While any blessing will do, this approved blessing is the preferred blessing and the one officially approved by the Benedictine Order.

God Bless,
Bro. Ignatius Mary

For information on how to receive help see our Help page. We suggest that before contacting us directly for help you try the Seven Steps to Self-Deliverance. These self-help steps will often resolve the problem. Also our Spiritual Warfare Prayer Catalog contains many prayers that may be helpful. If needed you can ask for a Personal Consultation.