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Monastery of Saint Benedict of Rio de Janeiro
- Adriana Vicente
- Feb 9
- 5 min read
Hi everyone! Today I'm here to recommend a super cool place for those who like churches and similar things! This month I was on vacation, and I decided to travel to Rio de Janeiro. As I was planning my trip, I discovered a place that I was already sure I would love, and it was promptly included in my travel itinerary: the São Bento Monastery in Rio de Janeiro . Located in the city center, the place is an oasis of peace and tranquility.
The Monastery of São Bento in Rio de Janeiro was founded in 1590 by two monks who came from a monastery in Bahia. Next to the monastery and church, there is also the São Bento school and a bookstore selling books and other religious items (I even bought my São Bento medal there, considered one of the greatest symbols of protection that exist).
One of the very interesting books I found in the bookstore there, and which I even bought, was by Father Gabriele Amorth , called "An Exorcist Tells Us". This book was a real find. Father Gabriele, who passed away in 2016, is still considered one of the greatest exorcists in the Vatican. His vision is strictly Catholic, which bothered me in some passages I read, but I believe that for those who want to understand and learn a little more about exorcism, I think it's worth reading not only this one, but other titles by the priest. There's even a very good documentary called "The Devil and Father Amorth", which recounts some exorcisms performed by the priest (tip: watch this film during the day hehehe).
Looking at it from the outside, you wouldn't imagine the rich architecture inside the church. But that's intentional, according to a monk I spoke with. The idea is that, initially, we end up judging people's outward appearance without knowing what's inside.
At the time, I learned that Vespers would be held at 6 PM; a prayer accompanied by church organs. Vespers , for those who don't know, is part of the Divine Office within the Catholic liturgy. Also called the "Liturgy of the Hours," it is celebrated between 3 PM and 6 PM. The prayer is sung by the monks, and this sung prayer is called " Gregorian Chant ." I am absolutely in love with this plainchant, and I eagerly waited until 6 PM just to hear the monks.
When the prayer began, an atmosphere of peace and tranquility enveloped the church. There were few people there, and the emptiness of the place helped to amplify the voices of the monks. Hearing Gregorian chant live is truly a wonderful and enriching experience. It was certainly one of the highlights of my trip. We received a booklet to follow along with the prayer and see the translation of what the monks were singing, because since everything is in Latin, it's not possible to understand the prayer without the aid of a translation. Vespers take place from Monday to Saturday at 6 pm and on Sundays at 5:30 pm.
Who was Saint Benedict?
Saint Benedict, also known as the patron saint of Europe, was an Italian hermit and monk born in 480 who founded the Benedictine Order , or Order of Saint Benedict . He is also known for organizing monastic life as we know it today (vows of poverty, seclusion, prayer, and celibacy, for example). Besides the Catholic community, Anglicans and Orthodox Christians also venerate him. His feast day is celebrated on July 11th. Saint Benedict founded approximately 12 monasteries in Europe.
Benedict wrote, in the mid-6th century, the so-called Rule of Saint Benedict , or Regula Monasteriorum , which is an organized compilation of how life should be within a monastery. Even today, these rules are followed by various monasteries around the world. One of the symbols of the Benedictine Order is the black cassock, or habit. Saint Benedict was the twin brother of Saint Scholastica.
Their motto, still followed by the monks today, is: Ora Et Labora , "Pray and work".
The powerful medal of Saint Benedict and its symbolism:
The St. Benedict medal is widely used by Catholic and Christian faithful, and also by spiritualists in general (like myself, in this case). The symbol contained in the medal is extremely powerful, and is also used in exorcisms. To further increase its protective power, it is advisable that the medal be blessed by a priest.
The exact origin of the symbol is unknown. It is said to have been discovered by chance in an old abbey, during the time of the Inquisition, around 1647, in Bavaria, Germany. In the library of this abbey, some manuscripts from 1415 were found containing texts and drawings, one of which was this symbol.
The medal features an image of Saint Benedict on the front, with the Latin inscription: Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur , which means "May we be protected by his presence at the hour of our death."
On the back, the following inscriptions can be found:
CSPB : Crux Sancti Patris Benedicti - Cross of the Holy Father Benedict
CSSML : Crux Sacra Sit Mihi Lux - May the Holy Cross be my light.
NDSMD : Non Draco Sit Mihi Dux - May the dragon not be my guide.
VRS : Vade retro, Satana! - Get thee behind me, Satan!
NSMV : Nunquam Suade Mihi Vana - Never advise me vain things
SMQL : Sunt Maia Quae Libas - What you offer me is bad
IVB : Ipse Venena Bibas - Drink your poisons yourself
This passage later became a prayer to Saint Benedict. The medal was approved by Pope Benedict XIV in 1742. The prayer on the reverse of the medal is also used for exorcisms, with the phrase "Vade retro, Satanás!" being quite well-known.
Prayer of the Medal of Saint Benedict:
"May the Holy Cross be my light, may the dragon not be my guide. Begone, Satan! Never tempt me with vain things. What you offer me is evil. Drink your own poison!"
The Monastery of São Bento is open to the public every day from 6:30 am to 6:30 pm and admission is free. Unfortunately, the part where the monks live is not open to visitors (a shame, my dream is to see the inside of a monastery and comfort the monk I was in a past life LOL), leaving only the church and the bookstore to visit, in addition to the courtyard, which is a very calm and quiet place.
The monastery is located at Rua Dom Geraldo, 68, Centro, Rio de Janeiro - RJ. I stayed in Copacabana and was able to get there without any problems via Uber. The journey took about 20 minutes and cost approximately R$ 19.00. However, for those who prefer, there are also public transport lines nearby, the so-called VLT (a kind of light rail system that runs on the streets).
It's definitely worth a visit!
Here's the official website with all the information about this incredible place:
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