Expert: Maria - 7/22/2010

Question
Can you tell me what the phrase "EIVS IN OBITV NRO-PRA SENTIA MVNIAMVR" means? I found it on a pendant from Italy.

Answer
Hello,

The inscription EIVS IN OBITV NRO PRAESENTIA MVNIAMVR,  where NRO is the abbreviation of NOSTRO, stands for EIVS IN OBITV NOSTRO PRAESENTIA MVNIAMVR, i.e. in small letters  “Eius in obitu nostro praesentia muniamur” meaning: “May we be strengthened by his presence in the hour of our death”, that is “May we be strengthened by St. Benedict‘s  presence in the hour of our death”.

On the margin of a Benedictine medal, encircling the figure of St. Benedict, are in fact the Latin words: EIVS IN OBITV NRO PRAESENTIA MVNIAMVR,  as Benedictines have always regarded St. Benedict as a special patron of a happy death.

Best regards,
Maria
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Note that:

-EIVS = his
-IN OBITV NOSTRO = in the hour of our death
-PRAESENTIA = by presence
-MVNIAMVR = May we be strengthened

St. Benedict of Nursia (Italian: San Benedetto da Norcia, born 480 – died ca. 547) founded twelve communities for monks at Subiaco, about 40 miles to the east of Rome, before moving to Monte Cassino, not so far from Rome, where he established his first monastery, the source of the Benedictine Order.