A Miracle in the Sky

Of all the miracles and apparitions surrounding Our Lady, my favorite has always been Our Lady of Fatima and in particular The Miracle of the Spinning Sun. But then again, I’m partial to all things Blessed Mother related. Call it a Catholic thing.

It’s interesting to noted that despite the thousands of people present at the Miracle, no definitive photo shows the sun spinning, dancing or darting about. You could argue that those who saw anything either did so as wishful thinking or mob hysteria. You can further argue that most of those present were uneducated. Perhaps. Perhaps being “uneducated” is an advantage when it comes to issues of faith. Faith is believing without definitive proof. The more educated, more skeptical, and less likely you are to take anything on face value. Proof. Children don’t need proof – they are willing and able to believe. Sometimes I think we’d all be better off, happier if we let our inner child out more.

As I look around at how crazy the world seems today, I cannot help but to think about Our Lady’s prediction that the final battle for the souls of mankind would be fought over marriage and family. All things considered, you gotta wonder – was she right?

Spinning Sun Peach Truffle
2 (3.4 oz) boxes Instant Vanilla Pudding
3-3/4 cups cold Milk
1 cup Heavy Cream
1 teaspoon Vanilla
2 tablespoons Sugar
6 ripe Peaches
2 loaves Angel Food Cake
1 cup Raspberries

To make the pudding layers, empty the contents of the instand pudding packages into a largve mixing bowl. Add cold milk, whisk by hand to blend. Continue to whisk for about 3 minutes, until pudding has reached a soft-set. Place in the refrigerator to chill well and allow to thicken, about 30 minutes.

While the pudding sets, chill the bowl and whisk of a stand mixer in the freezer. Once well chilled whip heavy cream with vanilla and sugar into stiff peaks. Set aside.

Bring a pot of water to a boil. Score the bottom of each peach then blanch for just a minute to loosen the skin. Peel peaches, slice into wedges. Use a circle the same size as the top of the trifle dish. Select the prettiest peach slices, arrange on the cirlce. Dice remaining peaches, set aside.

Cut cake into cubes. Layer the bottom of a trifle dish with a quarter of cake. Top cake with a third of pudding, then a third of diced peaches. Repeat cake, pudding, peaches. Begin the final layer with remaining cake.

Pile whipped cream on top of the cake, spread out smooth. Fan out the sliced peaches to resemble a spinning sun. Arrange raspberries in the center of the trifle dish as the heart of the sun. Chill well.

When ready, serve and enjoy.

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I prayed, and prudence was given me; I pleaded
and the spirit of wisdom came to me.
Wisdom 7:7