When an explosion rips through a hermit's cottage in the tall mountains of the Tuscan Apennines and a hermit, Brother Pietro, disappears, neighboring monks believe they have witnessed a miracle. Bishop's assistant Father Sergio calls in Sister Angela to verify the ascension of the man of prayer so that he might be considered for canonization. Wary of the role of proving something without scientific evidence, Sister Angela, hesitates. But Father Sergio gives her no choice, and she travels to the mountain to live among the witnesses at Santo Velo Monastery. Excited by the prospect of a miracle, several brothers admit they actually saw Brother Pietro's body being rocketed heavenward. But was the hermit chosen? Was he worthy of the accolade? None of his brothers seemed to know him well enough to discuss his virtue or spirituality. What makes matters worse is that Brother Pietro is not the hermit's real name. The nun seems to be stymied by the Church in her attempts to discover who the hermit was before he came to the hermitage. Looking for the truth, her investigation takes her to another diocese and finally to an international electronics company. But the story of the hermit's past eventually comes full circle. Marriage, family and devotion to God clash with money and power. The future lies in the bread of life-Il pane della vita.