Inspiring Mel Gibson’s movie The Passion, The Dolorous Passion of Our Lord Jesus Christ is a collection of Sister Anne Catherine Emmerich’s visions as recorded by poet Klemens Brentano. Born of poor parents in northern Germany, Sister Emmerich (1774–1824) joined a convent at the age of 28. Confined to bed because of her failing health, she began to display the stigmata—the wounds of Jesus on her hands and side—followed by visions of Jesus’s life. What she saw provided her with great insight into the lives of Jesus and Mary as well as the events leading up to his crucifixion—and the crucifixion itself.