1093. 27. Satan offered prayers to Christ, whether through himself or through his members, namely the reprobate. — Understand: as to Me. For if these words are referred to the person of the Son, he spoke soft words to Him when incarnate, saying: 'I know that Thou art the Holy One of God' (Luke IV, 34). To Him this Leviathan multiplied prayers, when through the legion subject to him he said: 'If Thou cast us out, send us into the herd of swine' (Matt. VIII, 31). Yet it can be understood more plainly that he multiplies prayers to the Lord when, on the last day of judgment, the wicked who are his body beg to be spared, when His members — that is, the reprobate — crying out too late say: 'Lord, Lord, open to us' (Luke XIII, 25). To whom it is at once said: 'I know not whence you are.'
Then also he will speak soft words to the Lord through his members, when many from his body are about to say: 'Lord, Lord, have we not prophesied in Thy name, and cast out devils in Thy name, and in Thy name done many mighty works?' (Matt. VII, 22). They indeed speak as soft supplicants when they recount in His name the things they have done; yet with a hard heart, while they did them, they seized them for their own praise. Whence they presently hear: 'I know not who you are' (ibid., 23). There follows: