Early in 1813, doctors discovered stigmata on Emmerich's body. Her parish priest summoned two doctors to examine her.

Three months later, when knowledge of the anomaly spread, he informed the vicar general. With the news making a stir in town, the ecclesiastical authorities launched an extensive investigation.

Many doctors wanted to investigate the case, and despite efforts to deter the curious, some visitors got entrance because of their rank or status. During this time, the poet and romanticist Clemens Brentano made his first visit.

Emmerich claimed that as a child, she had visions in which she spoke with Jesus, saw people in purgatory, and saw the core of the Holy Trinity in the form of three concentric, interpenetrating complete spheres. The largest but dimmest sphere symbolized the Father core, the medium was the Son's core, and the smallest and brightest was the Holy Spirit's core.

Each sphere of the omnipresent God extends to infinity beyond heaven's core. According to the Brentano compilation, a child (believed to be Jesus) visited Emmerich during her childhood illness and taught her about plants she should take to heal, including Morning Glory flower juice, which contains ergine.

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