Its in the chapel of Our Lady of Loretto in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Story of the Loretto Staircase For the story of its origins, we can go right to the Loretto Chapel website itself. In 1872 Jean-Baptiste Lamy, the Bishop of the Santa Fe Archdiocese, commissioned the building of a It is known for its unusual helix-shaped spiral staircase. The staircase of Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico is well known for being surrounded by at least two mysteries: the identity of its To find a solution to the problem, the Sisters of the Chapel made a novena to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters. Founded in the United States in 1812 and based in the rural community of Nerinx, Kentucky, the organization has communities in 16 US states and in Bolivia, Chile, China, Ghana, Pakistan, and Peru. Includes a prayer to St. Joseph and details about the miraculous staircase; In 1878, the Sisters of Loretto had no way of accessing the choir loft in their newly-built chapel. The beautiful gothic style chapel had no staircase to get from the main level to the choir loft. The staircase is indeed a mastery of woodworking. In 1872 Jean-Baptiste Lamy, the Bishop of the Santa Fe Archdiocese, commissioned the building of a convent chapel to be named Our Lady of Light Chapel, which would be in the care of the Sisters of Loretto. In 1873, the sisters began the construction of the Chapel. The Sisters novena is answered. $12.95 22 Used from $7.63 17 New from $9.27. It is located in Santa Fe, New Mexico, and Yet its creator remains a mystery. In 1873, the Sisters of Loretto operated a girls academy in Santa Fe, New Mexico. There wasnt a way to reach the choir space 22 feet above. Earlier this year, my friend Sister Patricia J. Manion of the Loretto Community, a teaching order of the Catholic Church, alerted me to an upcoming event, Sept. 26.On that date, The Sisters of the Chapel prayed to St. Joseph, the patron saint of carpenters, for an answer and on the ninth and final day of prayer, they got one. The Wikipedia article also notes that Ms. When the five remaining nuns arrived in Santa Fe, they started a school and made plans to build a chapel. In 1852 the Sisters of Loretto responded to Lamy's pleas by sending seven sisters who agreed to make this arduous journey to Santa Fe. The Sisters of Loretto credited St. Joseph with its construction.#LorettoChapel #NewMexico". The Loretto Chapel is a chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico known for its unusual spiral staircase that is an exceptional work of carpentry. Details: In 1852, the sisters of Loretto, a religious organization in Kentucky, sent seven nuns to Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Sisters of Loretto are sometimes As the building was nearing completion, Antoine died. View all posts. The spiral staircase of the Loretto Chapel is well known as a miracle because of its unique structure. After three grueling months of travel by river and rail from Kentucky, four religious of the congregation of the Sisters of Loretto at the Foot of Cross reached Santa Fe in 1853. The staircase of Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico is well known for being surrounded by at least two mysteries: the identity of its builder and the physics of its structure. Sister Lilliana Owens, SL (1899-1992), a prolific writer of Catholic history, was approached during the 1940s by editors from two different publications to write a comic. Yeti9000 has uploaded 12645 photos to Flickr. So, they prayed a novena to the Patron Saint of Carpenters and Workers, Saint Joseph, for nine days. However, due to the small size and shape of the chapel, a staircase was believed impossible. An unknown man showed up at the Chapel with a donkey and toolbox looking for work. The "Miraculous Staircase" The most popular feature of the Chapel is the "miraculous" spiral staircase. Months later, the elegant staircase was completed and the carpenter disappeared without pay or thanks. The railings were completed 10 years later by an artisan, Phillip August Hesch. The stairway has withstood 125 years and though hasnt been useable since the 1970s. The school closed in 1968 and Loretto Chapel became a non-denominational wedding venue and private museum. They were no less perplexed at the wood used, unknown to them and the area. You perhaps have heard of it, the staircase at Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where according to the literature nuns who operated a convent there began a novena to Saint Joseph, patron of carpenters and builders, when they needed a way to easily traverse up to the choir loft, which previously had been accessed by a ladder. 267 Likes, 17 Comments. Carpenters and architects told them it would be impossible to build a structure to get them to the loft, but the sisters prayed a novena for St. Joseph's help to solve the impossible. In 1873, they began building a chapel on the grounds of the academy. Children will learn how the Sisters of Loretto experienced prayer in action. Either the architects forgot to include a staircase to the choir loft or the nuns could not afford it but the structure was built without one. The staircase of Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico is well known for being surrounded by at least two mysteries: the identity of its The History of the Miraculous Staircase in Loretto Chapel. The story of the staircase goes that the Sisters of Loretto wanted a solution for accessing the choir loft that would not include a ladder. Loretto Chapel was used on a daily basis by the students and nuns of Loretto Academy until the school closed in 1968. There was one problem though. The Sisters of Loretto or the Loretto Community is a Catholic religious institute that strives "to bring the healing Spirit of God into our world." The school grew to about 300 students and the sisters raised $30,000 to build the chapel which was completed in 1878. There was no way to access the choir loft except by ladder. In 1853, the Sisters of Loretto opened a school for girls in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The Sisters of Loretto were undeterred. Details: In 1852, the sisters of Loretto, a religious organization in Kentucky, sent seven nuns to Santa Fe, New Mexico. In her book, Loretto: The Sisters and Their Santa Fe Chapel (published in 2002), as reported in Wikipedia.org, Mary Jean Straw Cook cites an 1895 obituary in The Santa Fe New Mexican for native Frenchman Francois-Jean Rochas that claims he was "an expert worker in wood [who] built the staircase in the Loretto chapel." When Two Sisters of Loretto wrote comic book stories about Loretto history in the 1940s and the 1960s. A beautiful chapel was built for the school with one small defect. At that time, the buildings renowned French architect, Antonio Mouly, passed away before access to the choir loft was constructed. The staircase was, for the Sisters of Loretto, a miracle. The Sisters of Loretto would use the spiral staircase which has no central column to provide structural stability and strength to ascend to the choir loft for the next 85 years. . . . as one climbed each step, a feeling of vertical movement was felt, as if the turns in the staircase were taken out of a large coiled spring. It was proposed that instead of a stairway, which would interfere with the chapels interior space, a ladder should be built. I hope that you know the story. The school grew to about 300 students and the sisters raised $30,000 to build the chapel which was completed in 1878. According to Historic Mysteries, the legend states that when Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico, was nearing its completion in the late 1880s, the architect died before he was able to design a staircase that could access the choir loft. The story of the Loretto Chapel staircase is a mystery to some. The findings, in Ms Straw Cook's new edition of her book, Loretto: The Sisters and Their Santa Fe Chapel, suggest the staircase was built For eight days, they prayed to St. Joseph. This is where the legend of the Loretto Chapel staircase began, and ever since, faithful visitors have been flocking to the church to get a peek at the subject of the Santa Fe The Sisters of Loretto believed in their hearts that, as the Church said, The whole world has no place more sacred. . . As their purpose, they set as their enduring goal the Christian education of children. They could envision no higher calling. However, when the project is finished, the sisters stand in awe at the beautiful staircase that makes two full 360-degree turns, has no central support, and is made only with a rare wood. The academy was very successful, so the sisters wanted to build a new chapel. In Santa Fe, we visited the famous Loretto Staircase. In 1878, the Sisters of Loretto had no way of accessing the choir loft in their newly-built chapel. The Sisters of the Chapel asked carpenters around for solutions but all said it needed a ladder as a staircase would interfere with the interior of this small Chapel. They hired Antoine Mouly to design the building. Get directions, find nearby businesses and places, and much more. The construction and builder of the staircase is considered a miracle by the Sisters of Loretto and many who visit it. The chapel has since been turned into a museum of sorts and a wedding chapel, after the Catholic Church decommissioned it. The Loretto offers a park-like atmosphere in the middle of the urban core of Kansas City. The staircase was, for the Sisters of Loretto, a miracle. The staircase of Loretto Chapel in Santa Fe, New Mexico is well known for being surrounded by three mysteries: the identity of its builder and the physics of its structure. Set in Santa Fe, New Mexico, Staircase for the Sisters highlights the American Southwest during a formative time in history. Our Picks. So, a novena was necessary. The Legend. The Sisters of Loretto were caught in a bind after the builders failed to consider setting up a staircase that would connect the chapels ground floor to the choir loft 20-feet above. The Sisters of Loretto opened the Loretto Academy in 1853. The Mystery of Loretto Chapel. Along the way, one passed away due to cholera, and another had to return to Kentucky due to illness. When the five remaining nuns arrived in Santa Fe, they started a school and made plans to build a chapel. The most fascinating part of the Loretta Chapel is its famous miraculous" spiral staircase that people come to admire. The Sisters Needed a Staircase. It was determined that the staircase in Moulys plans wouldnt fit. A group of nuns and Bishop John Baptise Lamy help set up a school for girls called Loretto Academy. When a mysterious man arrives to build a staircase, the sisters are perplexed at his identity and his ways. The Loretto Chapel Staircase, also known as the stairway from heaven, is a frequently cited miraculous tale. Skip to main content. The Order of Sisters of Loretto also built the Loretto Chapel right next door to the Our Lady of Loretto Academy in 1873, making it very convenient for all at the school to attend daily prayers in a beautiful place of worship. The Loretto Staircase has a story nearly as beautiful and inspiring as the staircase itself. It was here that in the 1800s seven nuns set up a school for girls, and when it was time, they built a chapel. On the final day, legend says that a man appeared at the door of the church looking for work. The staircase is indeed a mastery of woodworking. Discover places to visit and explore on Bing Maps, like Loretto Chapel. The sisters of Lorreto, who had commissioned the chapel, were distraught. Miraculous Staircase, Loretto Chapel @ Santa Fe, New Mexico. An abundance of trees, bushes and flowers adorn the grand architecture of the early-1900s. It was used daily by students and nuns of Loretto Academy until the school closed in 1968. Thenon the ninth day, an elderly carpenter appeared. Spiral staircase in Loretto Chapel, Santa Fe, New Mexico: Shutterstock/Jim Buzbee. During 1872, the Bishop of the Santa Fe archdiocese was Jean-Baptiste Lamy. Heres the chapels description of the staircases current state: The staircase has two complete 360-degree turns with no center pole for structural support. There, at the request of the bishop of Sante Fe, John Baptiste Lamy, they opened a school for girls. The Academy of Our Lady of Light (Loretto), a Catholic girls school, was opened in 1853 by the Sisters of Loretto after a plea from New Mexicos Bishop to spread the Catholic faith in this new territory. Loretto Chapel: The Chapel of the Sisters of Loretto - See 5,110 traveler reviews, 2,221 candid photos, and great deals for Santa Fe, NM, at Tripadvisor. The story of the building of, and the existence of, the miraculous spiral staircase in the Loretto chapel, in Santa Fe, New Mexico, is one that needs to be made better known.