The Miracle Of The Loretto Chapel Staircase Explained

Even though modern science and research have given some likely explanations for most of the mystery behind the Loretto Chapel staircase, it doesn't explain everything. For starters, the claim that Rochas was the mysterious carpenter is still conjecture and doesn't explain why he was only credited upon his death in one obituary instead of when a major newspaper had run an advertisement to find his identity.

Moreover, it is not clear exactly how or why Rochas, a Frenchman, found himself in what was then a small town in the American Southwest. While it is possible that he had been commissioned to build the staircase and the Sisters were simply unaware of his service, as Mary Straw Cook believes, it hasn't been definitely proven. In addition, the construction of the staircase, while adhering to the natural laws of physics, is still described by many builders and architects as a feat of wonder.

As the former Archbishop of Santa Fe, Michael Sheehan, once said about the matter, "It will always be referred to as a miraculous staircase. It was an extraordinary piece to have been done in its time" (per "Mysterious New Mexico: Miracles, Magic, and Monsters in the Land of Enchantment").