Borgnine was made to play this role. He had served almost ten years in the Navy, including during World War II, and he had no problem playing a military man. The role turned out to be more than a role for him:
Sr. Mary Joseph Calore, SSCJ
@sscjusa
Posted by Msgr Eric Barr
ERNEST BORGNINE: Back in 1975, he was offered a part in the film Jesus of Nazareth. He tells the story: Our cast, directed by the renowned Franco Zeffirelli, included Anne Bancroft as Mary Magdalene, and Olivia Hussey as Mary, mother of Jesus. I played the part of the centurion who was present at the crucifixion, the one whose servant had been healed by Jesus. Much of the film was shot in Tunisia on the Mediterranean during January and February of 1976. A cold, damp wind continually knocked over floodlights and stung us with desert sand. I was uncomfortable in my thick leather uniform. My neck ached under a ponderous metal helmet, and I even began to pity those ancient Roman soldiers who were called centurions because they commanded 100 men.
When it came time for my scene during the crucifixion, the weather was chill and gray. The camera was to be focused on me at the foot of the cross, and so it was not necessary for Robert Powell, the actor who portrayed Jesus, to be there. Instead, Zeffirelli put a chalk mark on a piece of scenery beside the cameraman. “I want you to look up at that mark,” he told me, “as if you were looking at Jesus.” “Okay,” I said, moving into position and looking up at the mark as instructed.
“Ready?” I hesitated. Somehow I wasn’t ready. I was uneasy. “Do you think it would be possible for somebody to read from the Bible the words Jesus said as He hung on the cross?” I asked. I knew the words well from the days of my childhood in an Italian-American family in Connecticut, and I’d read them in preparation for the film. Even so, I wanted to hear them now.
“I will do it myself,” Zeffirelli said. He found a Bible, opened it to the book of Luke and signaled for the camera to start rolling.
As Zeffirelli began reading Christ’s words aloud, I stared up at that chalk mark, thinking what might have gone through the centurion’s mind. That poor Man up there, I thought. I met Him when He healed my servant, who is like a son to me. Jesus says He is the Son of God, an unfortunate claim during these perilous times. But I know He is innocent of any crime.
“Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do.” The voice was Zeffirelli’s, but the words burned into me—the words of Jesus. Forgive me, Father, for even being here, was the centurion’s prayer that formed in my thoughts. I am so ashamed, so ashamed.
“Verily I say unto thee, today shalt thou be with me in paradise,” said Jesus to the thief hanging next to Him.
If Jesus can forgive that criminal, then He will forgive me, I thought. I will lay down my sword and retire to my little farm outside of Rome.
Then it happened. As I stared upward, instead of the chalk mark, I suddenly saw the face of Jesus Christ, lifelike and clear. It was not the features of Robert Powell I was used to seeing, but the most beautiful, gentle visage I have ever known.
Pain-seared, sweat-stained, with blood flowing down from thorns pressed deep, His face was still filled with compassion. He looked down at me through tragic, sorrowful eyes with an expression of love beyond description.
Then His cry rose against the desert wind. Not the voice of Zeffirelli, reading from the Bible, but the voice of Jesus Himself: “Father, into Thy hands I commend My spirit.”
In awe I watched Jesus’ head slump to one side. I knew He was dead. A terrible grief welled within me, and completely oblivious to the camera, I started sobbing uncontrollably.
“Cut!” yelled Zeffirelli. Olivia Hussey and Anne Bancroft were crying too. I wiped my eyes and looked up again to where I had seen Jesus—He was gone.
Whether I saw a vision of Jesus that windswept day or whether it was only something in my mind, I do not know. It doesn’t matter. For I do know that it was a profound spiritual experience and that I have not been quite the same person since.
Wow. I had to read up on him as I only remember him by his distinct tooth gap smile. An interesting character who married five times! A long career successful career, and what an honest account of his experience playing the Centurion.
Interestingly he was married to his fifth wife for 39 years until her death in 2012. He married her in 1973 and he did the Centurion role in 1976.
From the Catechism of the Catholic Church, paragraph 2477
Respect for the reputation of persons forbids every attitude and word likely to cause them unjust injury. He becomes guilty:
– of detraction who, without objectively valid reason, discloses another’s faults and failings to persons who did not know them;
… I didn’t really need to learn about Borgnine’s marital history after reading this beautiful passage …
Kirk B.R. Woller portrays the centurion whose servant/son Jesus heals in The Chosen. The centurions backstory is greatly expanded and Woller is great in the role Not sure he will be the same centurion at the foot of the cross but the series is incredible.
The Centurion has always been my favorite “secondary” person in Scripture. The same black-and-white regard for command that he has when relating his faith that Jesus will heal his servant, is how I regard it as well. “It simply is” has been a phrase of mine for many years.
When my wife and I were discerning whether to become Catholic and we attended our first Mass, that sentence, “Lord, I am not worthy to receive you, but only say the word and I shall be healed,” (since changed) was the clincher. I got a good case of goosebumps and we signed up for RCIA that very day.
I didn’t really need to learn about Borgnine’s marital history after reading this beautiful passage …
The fact that he stuck with that marriage after portraying the Centurion might be a sign CAG how it changed him.
“The fact that he stuck with that marriage after portraying the Centurion might be a sign CAG how it changed him.“
Yes, I agree. Thank you for that, Donald 🙂
He married her in 1973 and he did the Centurion role in 1976.
This explains it when he said For I do know that it was a profound spiritual experience and that I have not been quite the same person since. God works in the most amazing ways.
I read the post to my husband and he fondly exclaimed “that’s Ernest Borgnine from McHale’s Navy.” Great Post Don.
Thank you for posting Ernest Borgnine’s reminiscence. I am a Eucharistic Minister to the sick and shut ins for my mission. Because a version of the centurian’s words is recited when the Body of Christ is adminstered I’m going to print copies of Borgnine’s narrative and give them to the communicants this week or Holy Week. They are all devout and will appreciate learning the story even the woman who has some dementia.
Question: Does the centurian whose servant was healed have a name?
On the Way of the Cross we know of St. Veronica with her veil, Simeon the Cyrene who helped shoulder Christ’s cross, San Dismas the Good Thief and Longinus the Centurian who lanced the side of Christ. .
No name is given for the Centurion in the Gospels or in tradition, which is not remarkable, as Roman soldiers were usually referred to only by their rank, except by their intimates. The Roman Centurion Cornelius in Acts, perhaps the first of the Gentiles to be baptized, was likely retired.
Thank you.for the reply. Also my maternal grandmother was named Marie Corneilia. Mary or Marie for the Blessed Mother which was a tradition for many generations in the devout German/Swiss family. Cornelia after her Uncle Cornelius though he was always referred to as Neal.