Legend of The Loretto Chapel Miraculous Stairscase
In 1853 the Sisters of Loretto opened the Academy of Our Lady of Light for young girls. Later, they were asked to build a chapel, and after raising $30,000, the chapel was completed in 1978. The architect died during the building, leaving no access to the choir loft, twenty-two feet above.
The Sisters asked other carpenters how to build a staircase to the choir loft. They all said it couldn’t be done. The Sisters began a novena to St. Joseph, the saint of carpenters. On the last day of their novena, a young man with his donkey and toolbox knocked on the door.
The Legend of the Loretto Stairs
The young carpenter insisted he could build a staircase but needed to work alone. After a few months, he completed the staircase and disappeared. The Sisters were anxious to find him to thank him and pay him. They went to the lumber shop only to find out he never ordered supplies and the Sisters did not owe for lumber.
The stairs were stunning, complete with two 360-degree turns without railings. There were no nails, screws, or glue, only square wooden plugs with thirty-three steps. Seven years later, carpenter Phillip August Hesch added railings.
