A saint medal is one of the oldest kinds of pendant a man can wear: a small oval or round medal showing a saint, worn as a sign of faith, and a natural gift for Christmas, a confirmation, or a long journey. Three of the best known each carry their own story: St. Christopher for travelers, St. Michael as patron of the police, and St. Benedict, whose medal is covered in Latin initials. Here is what each one means, and how to choose the size, chain, and engraving for a medal in silver.
Key takeaways
- Choose the saint first: Christopher for a traveler, Michael for a police officer, Benedict for its prayer in Latin initials.
- St. Christopher is still a saint. His feast left the universal calendar in 1969, but he was never “decanonized.”
- A medium medal is just under 1″, about 23 to 25 mm; when a seller lists only a weight, judge by that.
- Engrave the back, except on a St. Benedict medal, whose back is already lettered.
- A medal is a sign of faith, not a charm. Give it to a man for whom the saint means something.
In this guide What a medal is St. Christopher St. Michael St. Benedict Size and chain Engraving Blessing FAQ
What a saint medal is
In Catholic practice, a medal is a sacramental, one of the “sacred signs the Church authorizes to help dispose us to receive God’s grace,” as Catholic Answers puts it, and Catholics do not “idolatrously place their trust” in the medal itself. So choose one the way you would a cross, for a man for whom the faith is real, as our guide to cross necklaces suggests.
St. Christopher: the traveler’s medal
St. Christopher is “traditionally honored as the patron saint of travelers, motorists, sailors, pilgrims, and those who journey far from home,” according to Catholic Answers. In the legend, he carried a child across a dangerous river, the child growing heavier with every step, and the child then revealed himself as Christ; that is the scene most medals show, a man with a staff wading through water with a child on his shoulder.
Two facts are worth knowing before you give one. His feast day is July 25. And although the Church removed his feast from its universal calendar in 1969, “St. Christopher was never ‘de-canonized,’ nor did the Church declare him a myth,” Catholic Answers notes.
St. Michael: patron of the police
St. Michael the Archangel is usually shown with wings and a sword, often standing over a dragon. Pope Pius XII proclaimed him the patron saint and protector of the police on September 29, 1949, according to Vatican City State, and police at the Vatican still celebrate him on his feast, September 29. That makes a St. Michael medal a natural gift for a police officer. For a man who served in the military, our guide to gifts for veterans covers what to engrave and what to leave off.
St. Benedict: the lettered medal
The St. Benedict medal shows the saint holding a cross and his Rule on the front, and on the back a cross covered in the initials of Latin phrases, the Catholic Encyclopedia, published online by Catholic Answers, explains. Down the cross, C S S M L stands for Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux, “May the holy cross be my light”; across it, N D S M D stands for Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux, “Let not the dragon be my guide”; and the letters around the edge begin Vade Retro Satana, “Begone, Satan.” The medal was first approved by Pope Benedict XIV in 1741 and 1742, and a jubilee version, first struck in 1880, may be made only by the Archabbey of Monte Cassino.
Size, chain, and care
- Size. A medium pendant is just under 1″, about 23 to 25 mm, roughly the width of a US quarter, as our guide to pendant size explains. If the seller lists only a weight, the same guide shows how to read it.
- Chain. The chain has to pass through the bail and carry the medal’s weight. Box, wheat, rope, and foxtail chains carry a pendant well, as our guide to the best chain for a pendant explains.
- Length. Under a shirt, a 20″ chain keeps a small medal high on the chest; over a T-shirt, 22″ or 24″ lets it show, as our cross guide notes.
- One at a time. A medal and a cross worn close together knock against each other, so wear one pendant at a time.
- Care. Sterling medals are often darkened in the recesses so the raised design stands out. Clean with soap, warm water, and a soft brush, and use a polishing cloth only on the high points, as our cross guide’s care notes explain; a dip or foil bath strips the dark finish.
What to engrave
Many St. Christopher and St. Michael medals have a plain back, which suits his initials, a date, or a few words. Keep it short: our guide to what to engrave puts a small ID plate at about 15 characters, and the back of a medal is often no bigger. A St. Benedict medal is the exception, since its back is already covered in lettering. Ask for a proof, and check every letter before anything is cut.
Having it blessed
Many Catholics have a medal blessed by a priest before wearing it or giving it, and his parish priest is the natural person to ask. For the St. Benedict medal in particular, the Catholic Encyclopedia notes that “any priest may receive the faculties to bless these medals.”
FAQ
Is St. Christopher still a saint?
Yes. His feast was removed from the Church’s universal calendar in 1969, but he was never decanonized. His feast day is July 25.
What is St. Michael the patron saint of?
Among other things, the police: Pope Pius XII proclaimed him patron and protector of the police in 1949. His feast day is September 29.
What do the letters on a St. Benedict medal mean?
They are the initials of Latin phrases. C S S M L stands for Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux, “May the holy cross be my light,” and N D S M D for Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux, “Let not the dragon be my guide.”
Does a saint medal have to be blessed?
No, but many Catholics have a medal blessed by a priest before wearing or giving it.
What size saint medal should a man wear?
A medium medal, just under 1″ or about 23 to 25 mm, suits most men; go larger on a broad build or over clothing.
What chain length suits a saint medal?
About 20″ to wear it under a shirt, or 22″ to 24″ to let it show over a T-shirt.
Bottom line
Choose the saint before the size: St. Christopher for a traveler, St. Michael for a police officer, St. Benedict for its lettered prayer. Then pick a medium medal just under 1″, hang it on a chain made for a pendant, engrave the back if it is plain, and, if he would want it, have it blessed before you give it.
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Related guides
St. Christopher’s patronage, legend, and calendar history and the description of sacramentals follow Catholic Answers; St. Michael’s patronage of the police follows Vatican City State; the St. Benedict medal follows the Catholic Encyclopedia as published by Catholic Answers; and size, chain, care, and engraving advice follows our own guides linked above. All were checked on October 30, 2026. Read our editorial policy.
