Catholic Army Medals | St. Michael & Patron Saint Necklaces – Rosarycard.net

St. Michael the Archangel is the primary patron saint of all military personnel, including the U.S. Army. As the commander of God's heavenly army who cast Satan out of heaven, St. Michael embodies the courage, strength, and righteousness that Army service demands. Additional patron saints of soldiers include St. Joan of Arc (patroness of soldiers, who led the French army at age seventeen), St. George (patron of cavalry and ground troops, a Roman soldier martyred for his Christian faith), and the Guardian Angel (a personal divine protector assigned by God to every person from birth).

Our Catholic Army medals are double-sided pendants. The front features the image of a patron saint — most commonly St. Michael the Archangel, St. Joan of Arc, St. George, or the Guardian Angel — along with the saint's name and a prayer inscription. The reverse features the official United States Army insignia. The medals are die-struck from solid sterling silver or 14kt gold filled, hand-polished, and come on a durable chain (18-inch or 24-inch) ready to wear. Each medal arrives in a gift box.

The most popular choice for a soldier deploying is the St. Michael the Archangel Army medal. St. Michael's role as God's warrior and divine protector makes him the natural patron for anyone heading into harm's way. The Prayer to St. Michael — 'defend us in battle, be our protection against the wickedness and snares of the devil' — is recited by Catholic soldiers worldwide. St. Christopher Army medals are also a strong deployment choice since he is the patron of travelers and safe journeys. Many families pair a military medal with a men's wood rosary as a complete spiritual care package.

Army paratroopers have a long-standing devotion to St. Michael the Archangel because of the parallel between his descent from heaven to fight evil and the paratrooper's own mission of descending from the skies into battle. St. Michael is often depicted with wings, which resonates with airborne soldiers. Many Catholic paratroopers at Fort Moore (formerly Fort Benning) receive a St. Michael medal during or after Airborne School as a symbol of divine protection during jumps and combat operations.

St. Joan of Arc is the most significant patron saint for women serving in the military. As a teenage girl who led the French army to victory through divine guidance, she exemplifies the courage and faithfulness that female soldiers bring to their service. Joan was captured, tried, and burned at the stake at age nineteen for her faith and obedience to God. She was canonized in 1920 and declared patroness of soldiers. A St. Joan of Arc Army medal makes a particularly meaningful gift for women enlisting, commissioning, or deploying.

Sterling silver medals are made from .925 solid sterling silver — a precious metal that's durable, naturally resistant to corrosion, and develops a subtle patina with wear. Gold filled medals (14kt gold filled) have a thick layer of 14-karat gold permanently bonded to a jeweler's brass core. Gold filled contains 50 to 100 times more gold than gold plating, which means it won't tarnish, peel, or fade even with years of daily wear under a uniform. Both options are made in the USA by Bliss Manufacturing and come with a lifetime guarantee against defects.

Yes. U.S. Army regulations permit soldiers to wear religious jewelry and medals beneath their uniform as long as they don't present a safety hazard or show above the neckline. Many Catholic soldiers wear their saint medal on a chain tucked inside their shirt throughout their service — during PT, field exercises, and deployment. The medal provides constant spiritual protection without interfering with Army dress and appearance standards. Choose a 24-inch chain for comfortable wear under body armor and combat uniforms.

A Catholic Army medal makes a deeply meaningful gift for enlistment or commissioning (welcoming a new soldier with divine protection), Basic Combat Training graduation at Fort Jackson, Fort Moore, or Fort Sill (marking the transition from civilian to soldier), deployment to a combat zone or overseas assignment, promotion in rank, Veterans Day or Memorial Day, military retirement, and Christmas or birthdays for active duty soldiers stationed away from family. Many families also give Army saint medals for Army ROTC commissioning and Officer Candidate School graduation.

Yes. Our Guardian Angel Army medal features the Guardian Angel on the front and the official U.S. Army insignia on the reverse. Catholic teaching holds that God assigns a guardian angel to every person from the moment of creation for protection and guidance throughout life. This medal is especially popular as a gift from parents to their children entering the Army — it's a powerful reminder that a divine protector walks beside them through basic training, deployment, and every challenge of military life. Available in sterling silver and 14kt gold filled.

Our medals are not pre-blessed — selling blessed items is considered simony under Catholic canon law. However, every medal arrives ready to be blessed by any Catholic priest or deacon. Simply bring the medal to your parish after Mass or call the rectory to arrange a time. Military chaplains can also bless medals in the field, at base chapels, or before deployment ceremonies. Once blessed, the medal becomes a true sacramental carrying the spiritual graces of the Church's prayer — making it far more than just a piece of jewelry.