In times of turmoil, when we feel surrounded by visible and invisible challenges, many souls seek a spiritual refuge — a shield against the evil that insists on lurking around our lives. The Prayer of Saint Benedict arises precisely as that armour of faith. Brief in words but immense in power, it has been recognised for centuries as one of the most effective invocations of protection in the Christian tradition.
This prayer is intimately connected to the Medal of Saint Benedict, one of the oldest sacramentals of the Catholic Church. Engraved with symbols and initials in Latin, the medal is not a magical charm but a concrete sign of faith in Christ and of the spiritual battle that every Christian is called to fight. By reciting it, we not only drive away the snares of the evil one but also renew our commitment to the light of the Cross — to a life lived according to the Gospel.
Saint Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, was a man of prayer, silence, and discernment. He knew first-hand the spiritual battles, temptations, and dangers surrounding those who desire to consecrate themselves to God. Thus, this prayer carries the authority of someone who lived the following of Christ with radical dedication and who trusted completely in the power of the Cross.
The Prayer of Saint Benedict is not merely a formula of protection; it is a profession of faith in the face of evil, a clear choice of whom we wish to guide us: the Cross of Christ, and not the “dragon” of perdition. By proclaiming it in faith, we declare: “Begone, Satan! Never advise me with vain things.”
Below, you will find this powerful prayer in its traditional form — simple, direct, and profoundly spiritual. Recite it with confidence and allow the sign of the Cross to illuminate the path you walk, day after day.
The Prayer of Saint Benedict (Portuguese)
The Holy Cross be my light;
Let not the dragon be my guide.
Begone, Satan!
Never advise me with vain things.
What you offer me is evil;
Drink your own poison.
Glorious Saint Benedict, sublime model of virtue, pure vessel of God’s grace! Here I am, prostrate at your feet. I implore your intercession before the throne of God.
I turn to you in my troubles and anguish. Protect me from all evils of body and soul, from visible and invisible enemies.
With your holy Cross, drive away from me the evil spirit; inspire me to imitate you in all things, so that, living in God’s grace, I may one day rejoice with you in eternal bliss.Amen.
The Prayer of Saint Benedict (Latin | Traditional Form)
Crux sacra sit mihi lux,
Non draco sit mihi dux.
Vade retro Satana!
Nunquam suade mihi vana.
Sunt mala quae libas;
Ipse venena bibas.
Gloriose Sancte Benedicte, virtutis speculum, Dei gratiae vas purissimum, ad te confugio.
Intercede pro me apud Deum, in angustiis et tribulationibus meis.
Ab hostibus visibilibus et invisibilibus me protege;
Spiritum malignum a me repelle,
Et gratiam imitandi te in omnibus mihi concede.
Ut in Dei gratia vivens, ad aeternae gloriae gaudia tecum perveniam.
Amen.