SAN BENITO - MY BEST MAN

San Benito - The Quiet Man Who’s Been With Me Longer Than Any Boyfriend

My Unexpected Love Affair with San Benito

So here’s the thing: when I look back at my life, there’s one man who’s managed to stick around longer than any boyfriend, crush, or fleeting entanglement.

He’s supportive, steadfast, and has this incredible power to keep the bad vibes at bay.
His name? San Benito.
(That’s Saint Benedict to the rest of the world.)

Lost, Found, and a Little Bit of Magic

Flash back a couple of decades: I had just walked away from a marriage and ditched a corporate job that was slowly sucking my soul dry. I was living in that deliciously terrifying space where anything could happen — equal parts exhilaration and “holy crap, what have I done?”

Jewelry design had started calling my name, and things were beginning to click. Then came a spur-of-the-moment trip to Ireland, where I found myself mesmerized by the Celtic cross — a cross wrapped in a circle, ancient and haunting. It felt like a sign, though of what, I didn’t quite know yet.

Cut to me, back in San Miguel de Allende, where I quite literally stumbled upon a monastery devoted to San Benito just outside of town. And wouldn’t you know it — there was that same sort of cross-in-a-circle symbol. (Okay, technically the theologians say there’s no connection. But the heart knows what it knows.)

The Ultimate Wingman (Who Also Happens to Stave Off Evil)

San Benito himself was a bit of a mystery man: quiet, contemplative, lived in a cave, had a serious reputation for banishing evil. Definitely the strong, silent type.

His medal is unlike any other — packed with tiny Latin inscriptions (36 words in all), each one a tiny dagger against negativity. It’s basically the OG power accessory.

When I started designing with the St. Benedict medal, I decided to antique it, dust it with gold, and seal it under resin — turning up its mojo to 11. The result? A piece that felt not only gorgeous but genuinely powerful.

It didn’t take long before the San Benito medallion became a cornerstone of Virgins Saints & Angels.  Little did I know I’d put San Benito onto rock stars, movie stars, and celebrities all over the world.

I’ve always said there’s something otherworldly that draws people to VSA. Sure, the pieces are beautifully designed (I’ll take a tiny bow for that), but there’s also a pull that goes beyond what most can see — a magnetic kind of energy that whispers to your soul. Customers share their personal stories about wearing their medallion day and night, swearing it helped them get through heartbreak, illness, tough jobs, and everything in between.

More Than a Muse

If you’d told me years ago that a quiet saint known for outwitting the devil would become my most loyal companion and biggest brand influencer, I would’ve rolled my eyes.

San Benito was just the beginning — the first of many medallions and symbols that would find their way into VSA jewelry. But after all these years, he’s still the favorite. The quiet saint who started it all remains our most popular, proving that a little mystery, a lot of faith, and a dash of rock & roll will never go out of style.

So here’s to San Benito — the man who’s been with me longer than any other, who turned my art into something sacred, and who’s kept the chaos (mostly) at bay for over 25 years.

Thank you, San Benito!