Benedictine Pins and Buttons
Description: The word PAX, the Latin word for ‘peace’, surrounded by the crown of thorns has long been a Benedictine symbol. It is the visual representation of the motto ‘pax inter spinas’, or ‘peace among thorns.’ This motto represents the peace which monks are able to acquire even while suffering, which suffering is a participation in Christ’s own passion, death, and resurrection.
Description: The holy cross of our Father Benedict, from the reverse side of the Saint Benedict Jubilee Medal of Monte Cassino. On the arms of the cross are the initial letters of an English translation of the rhythmic Latin prayer: The Holy Cross My Light, Sin Never my Guide. (Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Nunquam draco sit mihi dux!) In the angles of the cross, the letters C S P B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti (The cross of our holy father Benedict).
Description: On the arms of the cross are the initial letters of the rhythmic Latin prayer: The Holy Cross My Light, Sin Never my Guide. (Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Nunquam draco sit mihi dux!) In the angles of the cross, the letters C S P B stand for Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti (The cross of our holy father Benedict). Above the cross is the word pax (peace), the Benedictine motto. Around the margin of the back of the medal, the letters V R S N S M V - S M Q L I V B are the initial letters, of a Latin prayer: Vade retro Satana! Nunquam suade mihi vana! Sunt mala quae libas. Ipse venena bibas! (Begone Satan! Never tempt me with your vanities! What you offer me is evil. Drink the poison yourself!)
Description: Ora et labora, the ancient Benedictine motto, expresses the harmony between prayer and labour at the heart of Christian life. Rooted in the tradition of Saint Benedict of Nursia and the monastic rule that shaped Western Christendom, the phrase calls the believer to unite contemplation and daily work in service of God. Rendered in a restrained Roman inscription style on a black field, this design reflects the disciplined simplicity and spiritual clarity of the monastic tradition. Severe. Sacred. Timeless.
Description: The mesmerizing portrait of a woman's face adorns a mooring post on the picturesque Canale di San Marco in historic Venice, Italy. This unique and captivating artwork stands against the backdrop of the iconic San Giorgio Maggiore church bell tower and the Benedictine church, creating a blend of artistic expression and cultural heritage. The vibrant colours and intricate details of the painted mooring post capture the essence of Italian tourism and the unmistakable charm of Venezia.
Description: The Super Moon rises over Whitby Abbey, the view that inspired Bram Stoker to write Dracula. Whitby Abbey is a ruined Benedictine abbey overlooking the North Sea on the East Cliff above Whitby in North Yorkshire, England. It was disestablished during the Dissolution of the Monasteries under the auspices of Henry VIII.
