In fact, that poisoning had happened before World War II, and would continue long after. Pope Pius believed that the world desperately needed an antidote, and the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary was at least part of that.

St Elizabeth is one of many nameless or nearly nameless people in the Bible, the kind whose names appear late in the credits of movies, if they appear at all, just below “man in bar” and “assistant key grip.” Yet it is part of the humor of God that these people wind up being the ones whose words and witness frame our knowledge of the saving plan of God.

We become the most perfect version of ourselves when our lives revolve around the will of God.

The words that Mary treasured and pondered in her heart are those that might be the healing that believers know them to be.