Lord, I am not worthy

The centurion’s words, said by every Catholic before Communion.

A Roman officer told Jesus not to trouble coming to his house — just say the word. Christ called it the greatest faith He had found in Israel. The Church puts that man’s words in our mouths at the moment before Communion.

In Latin

Domine, non sum dignus
ut intres sub tectum meum,
sed tantum dic verbo
et sanabitur anima mea.

In English

Lord, I am not worthy
that you should enter under my roof,
but only say the word
and my soul shall be healed.

About These Words

The centurion was speaking about his servant’s body; the Church has us say it about our own soul. In the older form of the Mass it is said three times, striking the breast at each. It is the last thing said before receiving, and it is deliberately not a statement of worthiness but of trust.

Matthew 8:8 is the source. The man was a foreign soldier, occupying the country, with no claim on Jesus at all — which is exactly why his words work for the rest of us.