Book Summary In 14th century Flanders, a beguine Sister is assaulted while sleeping in her room in the walled compound. The intruder is driven off before she is harmed, but the consequences of the attempted rape are great. The beguines, a religious community of women, teach young children and many are boarders. If their parents learn of the attack, they might withdraw their children from the school, endangering the community’s livelihood. Grand Mistress Beatrice, their leader, begs her sisters to keep silent about the attempted abduction--but will they? The frightened Sister doubts her calling and becomes attracted to the father of one of her pupils. Their parish priest sees them walking together unchaperoned. During a religious procession in the town, a devout beguine cries out that she has seen Jesus’ face. She faints, calling His name. The townspeople wonder: has one of those beguines truly had a vision from God? Or is she simply a madwoman? The priest denounces the beguines and implores his bishop to punish them. Instead, the bishop asks the abbot of a nearby Cistercian order to investigate the community. Beatrice is severely chastised and is ordered to punish any sister who has broken her vows, but she feels herself responsible.

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