The Word

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Augustine

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What exactly does “word” mean when we say at Mass “… just the say the word and I shall be healed”?

TIA
 
That phrase is taken from Matthew 8:8. The centurian shows his faith in Jesus by not having him come to heal the servaent in person, but “only say the word, and my servant will be healed.” He is referring to giving a command. In doing this he acknowledges that Jesus has the authority to command anything & it will be done.

Does this help?
 
But why do we say that? I mean, sure, we want to be healed, but why then?

Thanks a bunch!
 
It is a act of faith.

It should recall for the one praying these words the faith of the centurion, which Scripture describes:

"Now when Jesus heard this, He marveled and said to those who were following, “Truly I say to you, I have not found such great faith with anyone in Israel.” (Matt 8:10).
 
In the tridentine rite, the priest held up the consecrated host, saying (in Latin) “Behold the Lamb of God, behold him who takes away the sins of the world.” The people responded, “Lord, I am not worthy that you should come under my roof. But only say the word and my soul shall be healed.”

The response echoed the words of the Roman centurion who asked for his son’s healing, but said he was not worthy that Christ should come into his house; but that Jesus need only speak the word of command from a distance. Jesus commended him for his remarkable faith.

So the Mass response was intended to show both our faith, and our need of healing, by evoking the words of the centurion from scripture.

When the Mass rite was revised, the response was simplified to: “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed.” Which is not much of a change, but probably fails to recall to us the scripture passage of the centurion.

JimG
 
Thank you, JimG, but this also beings up a question I have. Why did the quotation of the centurion during Mass change between the Tridentine liturgy to the present one? Specifically, why do we omit the phrase “under my roof” (or “enter my house” depending on your interpretation)? I know that in the Spanish liturgy the phrase has been retained while in English it has not. Don’t all translations of the Roman rite used throughout the world have to agree?

I think it matters to us as American Catholics, because to omit the phrase leaves us saying, “I am not worthy to receive you.” Period. And although it IS true, I think it contributes to the American perception that Catholics are too focused on people’s guilt, and it gives one more small reason for people to feel pushed away from the Church.

Although you could easily argue that Americans need to confront their guilt more, not less, this change in the liturgy just seems to be an avoidable “stumbling block” to me.
 
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