11. (6). Meanwhile Malachy's sister, whom we mentioned before,[271] died: and we must not pass over the visions which he saw about her. For the saint indeed abhorred her carnal life, and with such intensity that he vowed he would never see her alive in the flesh. But now that her flesh was destroyed his vow was also destroyed, and he began to see in spirit her whom in the body he would not see. One night he heard in a dream the voice of one saying to him that his sister was standing outside in the court, and that for thirty entire days she had tasted nothing; and when he awoke he soon understood the sort of food for want of which she was pining away. And when he had diligently considered the number of days which he had heard, he discovered that it went back to the time when he had ceased to offer the _living bread from heaven_[272] for her. Then, since he hated not the soul of his sister but her sin, he began again the good practice which he had abandoned. And not in vain. Not long after she was seen by him to have come to the threshold of the church, but to be not yet able to enter; she appeared also in dark raiment. And when he persevered, taking care that on no single day she should be disappointed of the accustomed gift, he saw her a second time in whitish raiment, admitted indeed within the church, but not allowed to approach the altar. At last she was seen, a third time, gathered in the company of the white-robed, and _in bright clothing_.[273] You see, reader, how much _the effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth_.[274] Truly _the kingdom of heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force_.[275] Does not the prayer of Malachy seem to you to have played the part as it were of a housebreaker to the heavenly gates, when a sinful woman obtained by the weapons of a brother what was denied to her own merits? This _violence_, good Jesus, Thou who _sufferest_ dost exercise, strong and merciful _to save_,[276] _showing_ mercy and _strength with thine arm_,[277] and preserving it in thy sacrament for _the saints which are in the earth_,[278] _unto the end of the world_.[279] Truly this sacrament is strong to _consume_ sins,[280] to defeat opposing powers, to bring into heaven those who are returning from the earth.