Benemerenti (Pontifical Merit Medal)

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Benemerenti
Medal of Merit Benemerenti
Awarded by the Holy See
Art Merit Medal
requirement 35 or
three years of service in the Pontifical Swiss Guard
Awarded for Services to the Catholic Church
status is awarded
Data
Foundation year 1818
Benefactor Pius VII
Awards The Holy See does not keep statistics on the awards.
Precedence
Next higher award Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice
Next lower award Jerusalem pilgrim cross
Ribbon buckle of the Benemerenti Merit Medal

The Medal Benemerenti ( "the Well-deserved") is also under Bene merenti and Benemerenti medal known. This medal is a papal decoration of honor for services to the Catholic Church .

Today it is seen as a sign of recognition of people in the service of the Church : civil and military lay people of all genders as well as clergy .

history

Today's medal of merit goes back to various traditions of papal awards with the name “Benemerenti” or “Bene Merenti”, which honored both civil and military achievements. 1891 these were by Pope Leo XIII. merged to the papal "Benemerenti Merit Medal", which gave the award a permanent character.

There is a claim in research that the first Benemerenti medal under Pius VI. or was awarded in 1775. The first proven medal, however, is a non-wearable version from the 18th year of Pius VII's pontificate - i.e. 1818.

There is also the distinction between the Benemerenti medal and various civil or military decorations. However, since Benemerenti medals were also awarded for civil and military services, the distinction between Benemerenti medals and civil or military decorations is difficult or even problematic. Since 1970, the military character has been de facto limited to awards to the Pontifical Swiss Guard .

Civil tradition line

The “Benemerenti Badge of Honor” donated by Pope Pius VII (Pope: 1800–1823) was awarded to Catholic people who had rendered outstanding services to science, art or good works. The civil medal initially only existed as a non-wearable version, which only became apparent during the pontificate of Pius IX. (Pope: 1846–1878) changed. There was a simple version of the medal as well as a more elaborate version as a "civil honor". Since Pius X. (Pope: 1903–1914) no bronze versions of the medal have been awarded. Since the redesign in 1970/71 there is only one stage.

Military tradition line

Pope Gregory XVI (Pope: 1831–1846) donated a medal for military service in 1832: for officers in gold and non-commissioned officers in silver. A foundation decree on this is not known. In addition, in 1832 he awarded the “Benemerenti” medal of merit, a three-stage award in gold, silver or bronze for soldiers of the papal army who were involved in the suppression of uprisings following the July Revolution of 1830 . In the pontificate of Pius IX. (Pope: 1846–1878) the military medal of merit was redesigned and, if necessary, re-donated. This was up to the pontificate of Benedict XV. (Pope until 1922) awarded. Pope Pius XII donated another military "Benemerenti" medal in the 1940s, the design of which was based on the previous one. With the dissolution, abolition of the Nobel Guard and the Palating Guard under Paul VI. in 1970 this military version was no longer awarded.

On December 13, 1856, Pius IX founded Another military award with the title "Benemerenti" in the two levels of silver and bronze for non-commissioned officers and men, which differed from the other medal by the trophy associated with the medal and the missing laurel wreath, but was only awarded until 1870.

description

Earliest execution since Pius VII.

The first known version since Pius VII. (Pope: 1800–1823) is a simple round medal with the portrait of the ruling Pope on the obverse and the wreathed inscription BENEMERENTI or BENE MERENTI on the lapel . This medal existed in different sizes and hung on a white-yellow-white ribbon.

The military medal of Gregory XVI. from 1832 differed from the design, as two angels carried a banner with the inscription BENE MERENTI on the back .

Pius IX until Benedict XV.

During the pontificate of Pius IX. (Pope: 1846–1878) there was a simple version based on the previous design and a more elaborate medal surrounded by an enamelled laurel wreath. As a "civil honor", keys and tiara were also attached to exaggerate the medal, while war trophies were used to exaggerate the "military honor". Until the pontificate of Benedict XV. (Pope: 1914–1922) these versions were awarded. These medals were also hung on a white, yellow and white ribbon. Only the simple execution of the Benemerenti medal under Pius IX. is an exception, as it was attached to the ribbon with the colors of the Order of Gregory in yellow-red-yellow.

Only under Benedict XV. there was a single-stage variant of the medal in gilded bronze, which was covered by the papal keys. Above the medal was the tiara , below the papal coat of arms. All elements were made from one piece.

Pius XI. until Paul VI.

Under Pius XI. (Pope: 1922–1939) was framed by a laurel wreath in the same color as the medal and additionally provided with a key and tiara as an exaggeration. This version was based on the elaborate medal version that has been used since Pius IX. has been used. In the pontificate of Pius XII. , John XXIII. and Paul VI. this design was continued with the respective portraits. These medals were mainly made of gilded non-ferrous metal; rarely in silver.

As a rule, the medal was attached to a white, yellow and white ribbon, which was folded in the manner of the triangular ribbon commonly used in Austria today .

Redesign under Paul VI.

The current design of the medal goes back to a design by the Italian artist Enrico Manfrini from 1970/71. The medal has existed since Paul VI. made of a cross made of gilded non-ferrous metal with a square outline on a yellow and white ribbon in papal colors. On the front there is an image of Christ and in the right cross arm the personal coat of arms of the Pope and in the left the papal insignia tiara and crossed keys . On the back there is only the inscription BENEMERENTI .

John Paul II (Pope: 1978–2005) changed the coat of arms to his own with the beginning of his pontificate and otherwise left the design unchanged.

In the first year of the pontificate of Benedict XVI. (Pope: 2005–2013) the coat of arms was replaced by crossed keys in a tiara, so that these are now in both cross arms. The figure of Christ blessing has also been modified. On the back of the medal, the lettering is also covered by the papal coat of arms.

Award

The medal of merit can be awarded to lay people, religious and deacons who have performed full-time or honorary service for the diocese and church that went beyond professional or official duties.

The bishoprics and dioceses have laid down the award procedure in their honorary ordinances . As a rule, the diocesan bishop forwards the award proposal to the Holy See (cf. for example the Diocese of Basel and the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart ). The medal is presented with a certificate from the responsible bishop or the suggesting parish priest. Awards of the Benemerenti Medal are not recorded in the Acta Apostolicae Sedis .

This badge of honor is a coveted award in Switzerland . Members of the Swiss Guard usually receive the medal in their third year of service if they are well managed. Because of the ban on religious orders in Switzerland, the legal opinion on wearing permits for former and active guardsmen is changing.

gallery

  • Front of the medal (awarded in 1984)

  • Front of the medal (awarded in 2009)

  • Back of the medal (awarded in 2009)

  • Soldier of the Swiss Guard with a Benemerenti medal

Further awards with the name "Benemerenti"

There are a number of event-related merit awards, such as to honor special contributions to the implementation of the Holy Years . These awards are also provided as medals with the inscription or designation BENEMERENTI , but are not identical to the papal medal of merit.

See also

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b c Regulations for conferring honorary titles and decorations in the Diocese of Rottenburg-Stuttgart (Honor Regulations) ( Memento from August 10, 2012 in the Internet Archive )
  2. ^ A b Ernst Meier: VATICAN: High honor for Zug's bodyguard of the Pope . Lucerne newspaper. May 10, 2013. Retrieved August 3, 2019.
  3. ↑ a b c d e f g h i j k l m Benemerenti Medal [Numisma "" Benemerenti ""] . Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  4. ↑ a b c d Peter Bander van Duren: Orders of Knighthood and Merit ( English ). Colin Smythe, Gerrards Cross 1995, ISBN 978-0-86140-371-4 , p. 621.
  5. ^ A b Ulrich Nersinger: Papal orders of knights and awards . May 18, 2007. Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  6. ^ Hyginus Eugene Cardinale: Orders of knighthood awards and the Holy See ( English ). van Duren, Gerrards Cross 1985, p. 74.
  7. ↑ Peter Bander van Duren: The Cross on the Sword ( English ). Colin Smythe, Gerrards Cross 1987, ISBN 978-0-905715-32-2 , p. 82.
  8. ^ Hyginus Eugene Cardinale: Orders of knighthood awards and the Holy See ( English ). van Duren, Gerrards Cross 1985, ISBN 978-0-905715-26-1 , p. 70.
  9. ↑ Benemerenti -Be128 (Medaglia) ( IT ) In: numismatica-italiana.lamoneta.it . Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  10. ↑ Friedrich Marquis Guigue de Champvans de Farémont: History and legislation of the orders of knights, decorations and medals of the Holy See according to official sources . Institut historique et hèraldique de France, Paris 1932, p. 33.
  11. ↑ series dei conj di medaglie pontificie since Martino V. fino a tutto il pontificato di Pio VII. Esistenti nella Pontificia zecca di Roma ( Italian ). V. Poggioli, Rome 1824, p. 1 65.
  12. ↑ a b c Michael Autengruber: Orders and decorations from all over the world. Holy See and Vatican. The Dr. Norbert Herkner . Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Kassel February 9, 2015, ISBN 978-3-941357-06-8 , p. 208.
  13. ↑ a b Michael Autengruber: Orders and decorations from all over the world. Holy See and Vatican. The Dr. Norbert Herkner . Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Kassel February 9, 2015, ISBN 978-3-941357-06-8 , p. 218.
  14. ^ A b Joseph von Niedermeyer: About rewards in the state; with an overview of the orders of merit . Fleischmann, Munich 1836, pp. 162-163.
  15. ↑ a b Michael Autengruber: Orders and decorations from all over the world. Holy See and Vatican. The Dr. Norbert Herkner . Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Kassel February 9, 2015, ISBN 978-3-941357-06-8 , p. 221.
  16. ↑ a b c d Michael Autengruber: Orders and decorations from all over the world. Holy See and Vatican. The Dr. Norbert Herkner . Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Kassel February 9, 2015, ISBN 978-3-941357-06-8 , p. 219.
  17. ↑ Michael Autengruber: Orders and decorations from all over the world. Holy See and Vatican. The Dr. Norbert Herkner . Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Kassel February 9, 2015, ISBN 978-3-941357-06-8 , p. 210.
  18. ↑ Military and civil decorations . In: kuenker.de . Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  19. ↑ Benemerenti Medal [Numisma "" Benemerenti "" . 1st model] . In: kuenker.de . Retrieved September 12, 2019.
  20. ↑ Benemerenti decorazione -CM190 (Medaglia) ( Italian ) In: numismatica-italiana.lamoneta.it . Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  21. ↑ Benemerenti 32mm -CM335 (Medaglia) ( Italian ) In: numismatica-italiana.lamoneta.it . Retrieved July 28, 2019.
  22. ↑ Benemerenti Medal [Numisma "" Benemerenti ""]. 3rd model . In: kuenker.de . Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  23. ↑ Benemerenti Medal [Numisma "" Benemerenti ""]. 3rd model . In: kuenker.de . Retrieved July 27, 2019.
  24. ↑ Michael Autengruber: Orders and decorations from all over the world. Holy See and Vatican. The Dr. Norbert Herkner . Fritz Rudolf Künker GmbH & Co. KG, Kassel February 9, 2015, ISBN 978-3-941357-06-8 , pp. 216-218.
  25. ↑ a b Benemerenti Medal [Numisma "" Benemerenti ""]. 4th model . Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  26. ↑ Vatican Benemerenti Medal, Pope John Paul II ( English ) VaticanCoins.com. Retrieved August 1, 2019.
  27. ↑ Diocese of Basel: Guidelines for the presentation of merit awards in the Diocese of Basel (pdf) In: www.bistum-basel.ch . February 1, 2013. Retrieved August 20, 2018.
  28. ↑ A papal medal of merit for extraordinary achievement in the Cecilia choir ( Memento of March 10, 2016 in the Internet Archive )
  29. ↑ Andreas Wicky: The Swiss Guard under the prohibition of orders in the old Federal Constitution (PDF) 2000. Retrieved on December 17, 2017.
Papal orders and decorations
medal

Order of Christ  • Order of the Golden Spur  • Order of Pius  • Order of Gregorius  • Order of New Year

Badge of honor

Pro Ecclesia et Pontifice  • Benemerenti  • Jerusalem pilgrim cross