Final answer:
According to legend, St. Benedict avoided being poisoned by making the sign of the cross over a poisoned vessel, causing it to shatter and preventing him from drinking the poison.
Step-by-step explanation:
The legend of St. Benedict miraculously avoiding being poisoned is rooted in the historical account of his life as the founder of the Benedictine monasticism. Allegedly, monks who opposed his strict reforms attempted to poison his drink. However, when St. Benedict made the sign of the cross over the vessel containing the poison, it miraculously shattered, thus preserving his life from the attempted assassination. This story exemplifies the valorization of faith and divine protection in Christian hagiography and the belief in miracles associated with saints.