Loretto Chapel- Santa Fe
is a former Roman Catholic Church
that is now a museum and wedding chapel.
It is know for the unusual
helix-shaped spiral staircase-
helix-shaped spiral staircase-
the "Miraculous Stair".
Popular lore states that the Sisters of Loretto
credited St. Joseph with its construction.
There is no center support in the stairs
that rise 20 feet to the choir loft while making 2 full turns.
The wooden staircase is held together with wooden pegs
and glue and no nails or other hardware.
that rise 20 feet to the choir loft while making 2 full turns.
The wooden staircase is held together with wooden pegs
and glue and no nails or other hardware.
The wood is a type of spruce,
not native to New Mexico
It was built between 1877 and 1881
not native to New Mexico
It was built between 1877 and 1881
and the handrails were added in 1887.
Modern day woodworkers acknowledge
the remarkable feat of workmanship done
with crude hand tools,
no electricity and minimal resources.
Even the mathematic theory for the execution was difficult.
Modern day woodworkers acknowledge
the remarkable feat of workmanship done
with crude hand tools,
no electricity and minimal resources.
Even the mathematic theory for the execution was difficult.
The untimely death of the architect in 1879,
might account for the challenge
of a choir loft and no stairs.
According to "legend", the Sisters of Loretto
prayed for a solution and a mysterious stranger appeared.
He offered to build the staircase, labored and then left.
In the early 2000's a historian identified
the probable builder of the staircase as
Francois-Jean "Frank" or "Frenchy" Rochas- 1843-1894.
He was a reclusive rancher and occasional carpenter
who came to New Mexico from France in the 1870's.
A newpsaper article published after his murder in 1895,
credited him as the expert builder
of the staircase in the Loretto Chapel.
She also found a notation in a logbook
for the sisters of $150 for wood in 1881.
Regardless of the "story", the Chapel
is a lovely place to sit, meditate and
listen to music.
The windows and finishings are lovely.
It is a sacred place to pray, and listen.
Even though it is favorite spot
for tourists in New Mexico,
it retains the "presence of the divine."
Come, Lord Jesus.
