Powerful Prayer to Keep Evil Away

Public Domain: The Benediction via THE MET.

About This Prayer

The Benedictine Medal Prayer is one of the Church’s most ancient and powerful invocations for protection against evil, temptation, and spiritual harm. Rooted in the life of Saint Benedict of Nursia, the father of Western monasticism, this prayer appears in abbreviated form on the St. Benedict Medal, a sacramental recognized by the Church for its spiritual effectiveness. The inscriptions on the medal call upon the power of Christ’s Cross to repel the influence of the evil one and to strengthen the believer against sin. Far from superstition, the medal and its accompanying prayer express deep Christian faith: that Christ’s victory on the Cross conquers darkness and that the faithful can rely on His grace in moments of temptation or fear.

The Prayer

May the holy Cross be my light! Let not the dragon be my guide! Begone, Satan! Do not suggest to me thy vanities! Evil are the things you proffer; drink your own poison!

Pause and Reflect...

Where have you experienced God’s grace recently, and how can you respond with gratitude?

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When To Pray

The Benedictine Medal Prayer may be prayed anytime a Catholic seeks spiritual protection, peace, or strength against temptation. It is especially meaningful during moments of anxiety, spiritual oppression, or discouragement, and is often used when blessing a room, home, or object. Many Catholics pray it before sleep, during spiritual warfare, or when wearing or using the St. Benedict Medal as a sacramental. It is also fitting during Lent, on the feast of Saint Benedict (July 11), or whenever a person desires to renew trust in Christ’s saving power.