Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Mark 5:12

Eastern Fathers

Theophylact of Ohrid

The demons begged the Lord not to send them out of the country, but to let them into the herd of swine.

Commentary on Mark ↗

Western Saints

Remigius of Rheims

The devils entered not into the swine of their own will, but their asking for this concession, was, that it might be shown that they cannot hurt men without Divine permission. They did not ask to be sent into men, because they saw that He, by whose power they were tortured, bore a human form. Nor did they desire to be sent into the flocks, for they are clean animals offered up in the temple of God. But they desired to be sent into the swine, because no animal is more unclean than a hog, and devils always delight in filthiness. …

Catena Aurea by Aquinas ↗