Do You Know the Mystery of...

...the Loretto Chapel staircase???

Have you heard of the mysterious staircase in the Loretto Chapel of Santa Fe?

In the late 1800's, the Arch Bishop Jean-Baptiste Lamy of the Santa Fe diocese 

of the Catholic Church, commissioned a chapel to be built and to be named 

Our Lady of Light Chapel for the Sisters of Loretto.

The Arch Bishop did not like the traditional Pueblo Indian style of architecture, 

native to Santa Fe, and instead had the chapel designed in the Gothic Revival style.

Apparently the architect died suddenly and before the chapel was completed.

During the building of the chapel it was discovered that there had not been

a staircase designed to access the choir loft.  

The Sisters were not happy with the prospect of climbing a ladder to get to the loft

due to the long skirts of their habits.

Sooo...the Sisters...being a religious order...decided to say Novenas (prayers) to 

Saint Joseph, the patron Saint of Carpenters.  

On the ninth and final day of the Novenas, a man appeared 

who was looking for work...  

Several months later the staircase was completed...
and the man disappeared with no thanks and no pay.

The Sisters searched for him...even putting an ad in the paper, but to no avail.

Many of the Sister's believed that it was Saint Joseph himself

who answered their prayers and built their staircase.

For all intents and purposes, the staircase should not stand, much less function.

There are two 360 degree turns with no support.  

It was built with wooden pegs, no nails.

The staircase is considered quite miraculous...in it's history and innovative design.
In addition, the lumber used was quite unusual, and was never seen being delivered.

It is quite beautiful...the detail and finish superb.

What do you think?  Is it a miracle?

Sources:

lhttp://www.lorettochapel.com/staircase.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Loretto_Chapel

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