Description

STS FRANCIS/ANTHONY ‘BRIEF’ CROSS / MEDAL: This cross has a long history, (1300s) but in 1708 a French sailor tossed these words into a raging sea and it became calm. The words have carried this power for centuries – they are: ‘Ecce Crucem Domine, Fugite, partes adversae, Vicit Leo de Tribu Juda, Radix David, alleluia’. (Behold the Cross of the Lord! Flee ye adversaries! The Lion of the Tribe of Juda, The Root of David has conquered, alleluia).

MORE ABOUT SAINT ANTHONY’S BRIEF: “Thousands…make a practice of wearing or carrying on their persons a copy of the famous Brief of St. Anthony believing they ensure for themselves his powerful protection against dangers to soul and body.

“A poor Portuguese woman resolved to put an end to her life. On her way to the river, as she was passing a shrine of St. Anthony, she cast herself on her knees for a moment to breathe, as she thought, a last prayer to the saint. While kneeling there she fell asleep. On awakening she found herself delivered from her terrible temptation, and hanging around her neck she found the Brief or Letter of St. Anthony.

“When the women’s story was spread, great curiosity was aroused. The king had the brief brought to him and placed it in the royal archives where it is still preserved with the crown jewels of Portugal. After parting with it, the women felt weak again, so a copy was made by the king and given to her.

“The Brief consists of a Cross with the following words `Ecce Crucem Domine. Fugite, partes adverasae, Vicit Leo de Tribu Juda, Radix David, Alleluia.” English translation `Behold the Cross of the Lord. Flee ye adversaries, the Lion of the Tribe of Juda, the Root of David has conquered. Alleluia.’

“It is recommended that a short prayer be said to St. Anthony daily. The following is recommended. `May he intercede for us, O Lord, Thy holy Confessor Anthony, upon whom, adorned with heroic virtues, Thou didst bestow the gift of miracles even unto working prodigious signs and wonders. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.’ ”

(Published by The Anthonian Press, Temple St., Dublin, Ireland. April 1964.

Thanks to Brian Cadman (USA) for bringing this to our attention.

ABOUT OUR MEDALS:  All medals on our website are hand cast from antiques and vintage pieces in sterling silver and solid bronze then antiqued to restore original patina.

PRICING SUBJECT TO CHANGE WITHOUT NOTICE:  (pricing determined by gram wt of metals at time of casting)

BRONZE = $20  (shown top)
STERLING = $56  (shown bottom)

(actual size: 1.875 in. H x 1.3125 in. W, including bail)