Last modified: 2011-02-05 by ian macdonald
Keywords: minas gerais | são bento abade |
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image by
Dirk Schönberger, 12 September 2010
Source: unknown
A centred upright red cross, with a broad white fimbriation on a green field with the municipal arms centred on the cross on a white disk.
No official website found.
Dirk Schönberger,
11 September 2010
The official website is "in construction", but it shows a big image of the
coat of arms:
http://www.saobentoabade.mg.gov.br/.
The municipality (lit., St.
Benedict Abbot) must have been named for St. Benedict of Nursia (480-547). The
circular emblem shown in the middle of the shield is the reverse of the St.
Benedict Medal, formally approved in 1741 by Pope Benedict XIV but of much
older, unknown origin.
The interpretation of the letters on the medal is
the following:
- on the cross, CSSML (vertical) and NDSMD (horizontal) stand
for "Crux sacra sit mihi lux! Nunquam draco sit mihi dux!"(May the holy
cross
be my light! May the dragon never be my overlord!);
- quartered by the cross,
CSPB stand for "Crux sancti patris Benedicti" (The Cross of our holy father
Benedict);
- above the cross, "PAX" is the Latin word for "peace";
- on
the border, V R S N S M V S M Q L I V B stand for "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!); the meaning of the formula was elucidated in 1647, when a manuscript
dated 1415 was found in the Benedictine abbey of Metten, Bavaria (Germany).
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13338a.htm - "Medal of Saint Benedict",
Catholic Encyclopedia
The dates on the scroll are:
- 17 December 1938,
recalling the erection of the São Bento district;
- 30 December 1962,
recalling the erection of the São Bento Abade municipality.
Ivan Sache,
13 September 2010