Christine (Sylvie Testud) is a wheelchair-using woman with severe multiple sclerosis. Along with a group of other invalids of varying disabilities she makes a pilgrimage to the town of Lourdes. Christine is assigned a nun, Maria (Léa Seydoux) who acts as an aid for her and helps to feed and clothe her. Christine admits to Maria that she is not particularly religious but that she has been on several pilgrimages as it affords her the possibility of travelling.