O Lord my God,
I am not worthy that thou shouldest come into my heart;
but since, in thy loving-kindness,
thou dost desire to dwell there,
I come to thee with humility and desire.
I believe that thou art truly present
in the most holy Sacrament.
I love thee above all things
and desire thee in my soul.
Since I cannot now receive thee sacramentally,
come at least spiritually into my heart.
I embrace thee as if thou were already there
and unite myself wholly to thee;
never permit me to be separated from thee.
Amen.
CATHOLIC TRADITIONAL; CURRENT FORM 16TH-17TH CENTURY AD
Prayer Before Communion
Also known as Pre-Communion Prayer ยท Prayer Before Receiving
About this prayer
The Prayer Before Communion is said by Catholics in preparation for receiving the Eucharist. Catholic theology holds that in the Eucharist, the bread and wine become the body and blood of Christ, and that receiving Communion is the central act of Catholic worship. The preparation prayer asks for worthiness, humility, and spiritual fruitfulness in receiving. Multiple traditional prayers before Communion exist; the version given here is one of the most widely used, drawing on the language of unworthiness found in the centurion's words in Matthew 8:8 ('Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof') and the penitential psalms.
When it's said
This prayer is said before receiving Communion at Mass. It is also used as an act of spiritual Communion when a person is unable to receive the sacrament in person, for example during illness or when Mass is not available. The practice of spiritual Communion involves making a sincere act of faith and desire for union with Christ when sacramental Communion is not possible.
Notes on the text
The phrase 'I am not worthy that thou shouldest come into my heart' echoes the centurion's words in Matthew 8:8, which are also quoted in the Mass just before Communion: 'Lord, I am not worthy that thou shouldest come under my roof.' The prayer as given includes a clause for spiritual Communion, making it suitable both for those receiving sacramentally and for those who cannot.
Source
Traditional Catholic prayer, 16th-17th century form. Text from F.X. Lasance, The Blessed Sacrament Book, 1913. Public domain.
Last reviewed: May 2026 against primary source.