Prayer to Saint Benedict
These are the words engraved on the Saint Benedict Medal in Latin initials (C.S.S.M.L., N.D.S.M.D., V.R.S., N.S.M.V., S.M.Q.L., I.V.B.). The medal has been worn for protection since the Middle Ages. Feast: July 11.
Also known as: Vade Retro Satana · Exorcism Prayer of Saint Benedict · Prayer on the Saint Benedict Medal
let not the dragon be my guide.
Begone, Satan!
Never tempt me with your vanities.
What you offer me is evil;
drink the poison yourself.
Amen.
When to pray
As a prayer of protection, when leaving home and at bedtime.
Latin text
Non draco sit mihi dux
Vade retro Satana
Numquam suade mihi vana
Sunt mala quae libas
Ipse venena bibas
Origin
The "Vade Retro Satana" is an ancient Catholic prayer of exorcism and protection against evil, most famously associated with the Saint Benedict Medal. While its exact origins are obscure, it was documented in a 15th-century manuscript from Metten Abbey in Bavaria. The prayer gained widespread recognition and use after Pope Benedict XIV approved the Saint Benedict Medal in 1742, making it a central element of devotion to Saint Benedict. It is recited to invoke the saint's intercession against temptations and malevolent influences.
In other languages
Oração de São Bento (Português) · Oración a San Benito (Español) · Preghiera a San Benedetto (Italiano) · Modlitwa do Świętego Benedykta (Polski) · Panalangin kay San Benito (Tagalog)