1818 in the Münsterland Innumerable pilgrims seeking comfort and consolation visit the bedside of Anna Katharina von Emmerich a nun whose body bears marks of the holy wounds of Christ on her chest forehead and hands Clemens von Brentano an artist in his prime visits the nuns sickbed as a simple writer of the wonders of God to take down her visions and beliefs He believes himself to be in charge of his life as a devout Catholic The former rakes encounter with the charismatic nun proves fateful however For both of them