Defend us in the day of battle...

Yesterday, a package arrived from the USA.* It arrived, providentially, just in time for the launching of our 33 days for Mary starting today. I say providentially, because I had not actually planned that the two events would coincide.  The ''weapons'' described below have already seen action earlier today which seems to suggest the plan must have been conceived and executed elsewhere! DG**

Here was what I removed from the delivery packaging:

<<<<< A metal case, green with gold letters and a hinged lid...












Here is what was contained inside the case:

<<<<<  A leather pouch with two zipped compartments. The smaller one (front) contained written information about the contents of the larger pouch...








Here is what was in the larger pouch:

<<<<<  A 'Combat Rosary' made out of gun metal, reassuringly weighty and robust.

The Combat Rosary was commissioned by the U.S. government and issued, upon request, to soldiers serving in World War I. Some of these rosaries were also seen in WWII.

This is a new Combat Rosary which incorporates the Pardon Crucifix, the Miraculous Medal and the St. Benedict Medal.



The Miraculous Medal is widely known and much loved. I was, however, unfamiliar with the ''Pardon Crucifix.'' The earliest reference I have found to it dates from 1905 when Pope St Pius X granted a series of indulgences in relation to its use.

On the front of the Crucifix, instead of the letters ''INRI'' are the Latin words ''Jesus Nazarenus Rex Judaeorum.''

<<<<<  On the rear of the Crucifix is a Cross with the following words:

on the transverse arms: ''Father, forgive them''  (Our Lord's own words on the Cross);
on the vertical beam: ''Behold this heart which has so loved men.'' An image of the Sacred Heart of Jesus is shown in the centre.



These words recall the words reported by a French Visitation nun in the 17th century. Between 1673 and 1675, Margaret Mary Alacoque, received a series of visions in her convent at Paray-le-Monial, in which Jesus appeared to her as the Sacred Heart. Over a period of about 18 months the future saint revealed that she had received instructions to spread devotion to the Sacred Heart of Jesus. She recorded all that happened in her visions, writing that, during the Octave of Corpus Christi, 1675, Jesus spoke to her, saying:

''Behold the heart which has so loved men that it has spared nothing, even exhausting and consuming itself in testimony of its love... instead of gratitude I receive from the greater part only ingratitude, by their irreverence and sacrilege, and by the coldness and contempt they have for Me in this Sacrament of Love.''

I was also quite unfamiliar with the St Benedict Medal. It is extremely ancient, with references to it in the 11th century.

Benedict:  Founder of western monasticism, born at Nursia, c. 480; died at Monte Cassino, 543. The only authentic life of Benedict of Nursia is that contained in the second book of St. Gregory's "Dialogues". A tradition, which St. Bede accepts, makes him a twin with his sister Scholastica.Benedict became a hermit and one day the Devil tempted him with a beautiful woman. Benedict resisted by rolling his body in a thorn bush until it was covered in wounds. In this way, he resisted the temptation and cured the wounds of his soul.

Word of his holiness brought nearby monks seeking his leadership. He warned them he would be too strict for them, but they insisted and then tried to poison him when his warning proved true. The story goes, the monks attempted to poison Benedict's drink and bread, but when he prayed a blessing over the cup - it shattered. A crow flew off with the bread.

In Monte Cassino he founded the monastery that became the foundation of the Church's monastic system. Instead of founding small separate communities, he gathered his disciples into one whole community. His own sister, Saint Scholastica, settled nearby to live a religious life.

<<<<<  Here is the front of the medal.

CRVX S PATRIS BENEDICTI; The Cross of Holy Father Benedict

EIVS IN OBITV NRO PRAE SENTIA MVNIAMUR: May we be strengthened in [the hour of]our death by his presence

EX S M CASSINO MDCCCLXXX: From Monte Cassino 1880

<<<<<  Here is the reverse of the medal.
PAX : Peace

CSSML : Crux sacra sit mihi lux : May the holy cross be my light

NDSMD : Nunquam draco sit mihi dux : May the dragon never be my guide

CSPB : Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti : The Cross of our holy father Benedict)


V R S N S M V – S M Q L I V B : are the initial letters, as mentioned above, of a Latin prayer of exorcism against Satan:
Vade retro Satana : Nunquam suade mihi vana : Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities
Sunt mala quae libas : Ipse venena bibas : What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!)


All the mysterious symbols and letters on this medal are explained very effectively on the osb.org website. The two images above are reproduced courtesy of osb.org. [c/o Benedictine Confederation,
Piazza dei Cavalieri di Malta 5, 00153 Roma, Italy]

*For anyone interested in acquiring the Combat Rosary, please visit the following website: Roman Catholic Gear.

**Totus tuus ego sum 

Et omnia mea tua sunt;

Tecum semper tutus sum:
Ad Jesum per Mariam