# Lord, I Am Not Worthy

> This short prayer before Communion borrows the words of a humble centurion who trusted completely in the word of Jesus.

- Source: Light of Saints, “Lord, I Am Not Worthy”, https://lightofsaints.com/en/prayers/lord-i-am-not-worthy
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Published: 2026-11-06

## Meaning

With the words of the centurion at Capernaum (Mt 8:8), we admit that we are not worthy to receive the Lord, yet we trust that if he will only say the word, it is enough to heal us. This prayer joins humility with trust in the mercy of Jesus.

## Prayer

_Traditional prayer of the Church; text: Order of Mass, Roman Missal, third edition (English translation, 2011)._

### Lord, I Am Not Worthy

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

## Intentions & hopes

The faithful pray it to prepare their hearts before Communion, when they feel unworthy, or when making a spiritual communion. We may hope that the Lord will heal and strengthen our soul according to his will, just as he responded to the centurion's faith.

## When & how to pray

- At Mass, say it together with the congregation after the priest shows the Host and says, "Behold the Lamb of God…".
- Say it calmly while looking at the Host, then come forward to receive Communion with reverence.
- In the older form of the Mass, the priest says it three times, striking his breast each time.
- Outside Mass, pray it silently as a short prayer of trust, for example when making a spiritual communion or when you feel unworthy.

## Origins

The words of this prayer come from the Gospel account of the centurion at Capernaum who asked Jesus to heal his servant (Mt 8:8; Lk 7:6-7). The centurion, who was not a Jew, said that he was not worthy to have Jesus enter under his roof and asked Jesus only to say the word. Jesus praised his faith.

The Catholic Encyclopedia records that before giving Communion, both during Mass and outside Mass, the priest shows the particle of the Host with the words "Ecce Agnus Dei…" and then says "Domine, non sum dignus". In this way the prayer is closely tied to the invitation to receive Communion.

This prayer was not used everywhere in the same way. The Sarum Rite in medieval England did not use "Domine, non sum dignus" at Communion, but a wording of its own.

Before the reform that followed the Second Vatican Council, this prayer was said three times in Latin and was a prayer of the priest alone. In the Missal of Paul VI, the people say it together aloud.

_Edition note: Text: ICEL, Order of Mass, Roman Missal, third edition (English translation, 2011). Checked word for word against the source on 2026-11-05._

## Sources

- [Order of Mass, Roman Missal, third edition (English translation, 2011) — The Order of Mass](https://charlestondiocese.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/Ordo_Missae_Color.pdf) — Text follows Order of Mass, Roman Missal, third edition (English translation, 2011); taken from charlestondiocese.org
- [VI. The Paschal Banquet - Catechism](https://www.vatican.va/content/catechism/en/part_two/section_two/chapter_one/article_3/vi_the_paschal_banquet.html) — Latin text from www.vatican.va
- [Prayer of Humble Access](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Prayer_of_Humble_Access) — Published by Wikipedia
- ['Domine, non sum dignus'](https://www.thinkingfaith.org/articles/20111007_1.htm) — Published by Thinking Faith (Jesuits in Britain)
- [Agnus Dei (in Liturgy)](https://www.catholic.com/encyclopedia/agnus-dei-in-liturgy) — Published by Catholic Encyclopedia, hosted by Catholic Answers
- [Matthew 8:5-17 NRSVue](https://sacredspace.com/scripture/matthew-85-17/) — Published by Sacred Space (Irish Jesuits)