An extract from 'Dom Prosper Gueranger, O.S.B. - The Medal or Cross of St. Benedict'
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'V.R.S.N.S.M.V. S.M.Q.L.I.V.B. These intials stand for the two following verses: -- VADE RETRO, SATANA; NUNQUAM SUADE MIHI VANA. SUNT MALA QUAE LIBAS; IPSE VENENA BIBAS; in English: Begone, Satan! and suggest not to me thy vain things: the cup thou profferest me is evil; drink thou thy poison. These words are supposed to be uttered by St. Benedict; those of the first verse when he was suffering the temptation in his cave, and which he overcame by the sign of the cross; and those of the second verse, at the moment of his enemies offering him the draught of death, which he discovered by making over the poisoned cup the sign of life.'