A Spirit Daily reader sent this comment to Mr. Brown:
"Did the carpenter come as an answer to prayers? I believe so. Was the construction of the stairs divinely inspired? I would agree.
"However, as to the identity of the mystery carpenter, I tend to agree with historian Mary J. Straw Cook in her book, 'Loretto: The Sisters and Their Santa Fe Chapel.' The carpenter, according to her, was Francois-Jean Rochas. He was a member of 'les compagnon,' a French guild of celibate and secretive craftsmen.
"Cook researched the matter for seven years and made seven trips to France. Part of her evidence is an 1895 article in The New Mexican, in which the chapel's contractor, Quintus Monier, names Rochas as the staircase's builder. There is also an 1881 entry in the sisters' daybook that indicates a Mr. Rochas was paid $150 'for wood.' There is a freight slip for wood delivered by ship from France.
"It is a beautiful staircase and indeed miraculously built. It may not have been made directly by the hands of angels or saints (Rochas was allegedly a bit of a rascal and died a mysterious death), but God does answer prayers by placing the right individuals at the right place and at the right time to accomplish his tasks. That should serve as an inspiration to all of us. You never know when God is using you to answer someone else's prayers."
So, discovering that St. Joseph didn't build the spiral staircase, you'd think that would burst my bubble, wouldn't you? But it doesn't. He still had a direct hand in the project: When the sisters prayed for help, they prayed a novena to St. Joseph.
And anyway, I am encouraged to know that even "rascals" can do great things for God!
4 comments:
quite touched by your interest in well designed spiral staircases. Devinely inspired, i doubt very much, and the fact that st Joseph in person takes the credit from a probably "humble" Rochas is quite insulting. As a Scottish Stairmaker/Designer,living in France and quite curiously belonging to the same "guild of celibate and secretive craftsmen" Les Compagnons Du Devoir,i feel obliged in defending Rochas dignity and memory ,that by calling him a "Rascal" is quite out of context, Inocent people get murdered too.
jmack@wanadoo.fr
Funny that Ms did not find another like spiral staircase in her seven-year search. Know why? There isn't any.
As for "journeyman", he did not reveal how many spiral staircases he built without a center-support column, and no nails, that would bear a mouse. Answer: Zero!
FACT: At one time 25 people stood ans jumped on it. Obviously "journeyman" did not build it.
Oh what a pleasant surprise...Two years after my comment. Pity you did'nt send me a mail NEMO but your obviously not used to consulting the "FACTS" before jumping to conclusions. It could have saved a lot of time, I could have answered your question about how many spiral staircases i've built without centre support. Probably half a dozen, that is with "no nails" too. Joints, wooden pegs,glue good Geometry/craftsmanship and money,that's all you need.
Oh about the "FACT" (25 people jumping on that staircase)PROOVE IT?
PS:If you want further "Proof" or photos of what I do please keep in touch. You may be quite surprised what we do over here on the old world(europe).
Having only now come across this entry, I will be considered a latecomer (at best).
The belief that Joseph was in any way a part of the building of this staircase is unsound biblically. The Bible (for those who take the time to read it) expressly defines that, after death, an individual goes to heaven or hell. None stay in 'limbo'.
It also describes that any who have accepted Jesus as their personal Savior are saints. There is nothing in the Word of God that allows for the canonizing of the dead.
On a third, and final, note: A novena is a prayer. These nuns, by their own admission, were praying to Joseph (who, incidentally, does not hear prayers). The Bible is very explicitly clear that we are to pray only to God; and, that praying to any other is idolatry. Whoever did the work did a mastery. They could not have been sent by Joseph.
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