Flower of Devotion

St. Bridget was once in awe of witnessing the following conversation between God and Satan:
“The Lord God said to Satan: “You are created by me, and you have seen in me all righteousness. Tell Me in such a way that this (that is, St. Bridget) will hear: What kind of justice was it that you fell so much? Or what was your thought at the moment of this fall?”
Satan answered: “I have seen three things in you. First, I have seen Your magnificence, Your honor above all else, and I have thought of my own magnificence. As a result, I became proud, and I resolved not only to become Your equal, but even to surpass You. Secondly, I saw that You were mightier than all things, and therefore I wished to be mightier than You. Thirdly, I saw what was to come in the future, and since Thy splendor and Thy glory are without beginning and without end, I envied Thee, and I thought to myself how gladly I would have endured torments greater than all sufferings, if only Thee had died, and in such thoughts I fell. And that’s why all hell happened.
The Lord went on to ask, “Now, Satan, your heart has been opened. Tell her to hear, ‘What love do I have for you?’”
Satan answered, “If it were possible, you would very willingly suffer on each of your members once more the torment that you once suffered on the cross upon all the members, before you would consent to lose me.”
And the Lord said, “If, therefore, I am so merciful that I refuse forgiveness to no one who asks me, then you also humbly ask me for mercy, and I will grant it to you.”
Satan replied: “I will never do that! For when I fell, a penalty was prescribed for every sin, whether for a useless thought or for an unprofitable word, and every one of the spirits that fell will receive their punishment. Before I bent my knee to You, I would rather swallow all punishments more willingly, as long as it is possible to open and close my mouth as a punishment, so that I would constantly renew myself to bear the punishment.”
Then the Lord said to his bride, “Behold, how hardened is the prince of the world, and how mighty he is against me because of my secret righteousness. For I could destroy him in the twinkling of an eye by the power of My might, but I do not do less justice to him than I do to a good angel in Heaven. But when his time comes, which is already near, I will judge him with all those who belong to him. Therefore, my bride, always do good works, love Me with all your heart, and fear nothing, for I am Lord over Satan and over all that exists.”