Chapter 6: Angels or Carpenters

 

“Please Rama, I apologize. May I say something?”

“Yes, Maria, of course. Anyone may speak. We are curious about what you have to say.”

“Oh thank you very much.  Although I must admit that I wasn’t able to understand everything you said, I am learning so much tonight.  But honestly, listening to you speak about Catholic nuns and the history of New Mexico and Texas, this was the furthest thing from my mind that I thought you would be talking about.  Your religion—yes—but to hear you speak about New Mexico and the Mission of San Agustin de la Isleta—I cannot tell you how thrilled I am.”   

Everyone smiled as Maria continued. “It is truly a beautiful Mission and then you were describing the architecture of a convent in Spain—the very subject that I earned my degree in—and just now, the legend of the two angels who helped Sister Maria build her convent. These are just too many coincidences at one time to be taken lightly.”

Understanding the significance of what Maria had just said, Nick turned to his daughter and said a few words before she continued.

“Maria, I had no idea that you graduated with a degree in architecture.  There is still so much for us to talk about.”

Looking at her father, Maria continued.  “Yes, I went to school in Santa Fe, New Mexico.  I earned degrees in both art and architecture, but architecture is what I really love. So naturally I was very interested when Rama was telling us about the convent that Sister Maria had built.”

Turning her head and smiling, Maria then said, “When I heard Rama tell us how the two master craftsmen had disappeared, and the legend that they were actually angels, I just had to tell you about a church that is located in Santa Fe, that has a similar story.”

“Please Maria, now you have us all most curious.”

“Thank you Rama. Santa Fe was also founded by the Spanish around the same time as the Spanish community in Isleta.  One of my college classes taught the early architect of the Southwest.  So yes, I have actually been to Isleta and inside the beautiful Spanish Mission of San Agustin de la Isleta.

 

San Agustin de la Isleta

 

 

 

“Exactly as you mentioned, it was built in 1612 by Spanish Franciscans and their Indian converts.  But I had no idea about the Jumano Indians and Sister Maria.  I can’t believe that I haven’t heard about her. 

“What is really interesting is that not far from my college in Santa Fe there is another Catholic church. What is so interesting about this cathedral is that during its construction in the late 1870s, its only architect suddenly died and only later was it discovered that he had made a terrible mistake. He had left out the staircase that was needed to access a loft  that had been built over the altar. Even worse, no matter what was suggested as a remedy, building a normal staircase would simply take up too much space and disfigure the design.

“Reaching this impasse, people were blaming each other and everyone was very upset. The stairs were absolutely needed so that the nuns could climb to the loft and sing.  Without a solution in sight, the nuns began nine days of prayer in honor of St. Joseph, for he was a both the father of Jesus and a carpenter.

 

Saint Joseph

 

 

 

As it turned out, on the very day that their novena ended, a modestly dressed man suddenly appeared at their door. Obviously aware of the uncanny significance of his sudden arrival, the Sisters kindly invited him into the church and this is when they showed him the loft and the missing staircase.

“With confidence the man assured the nuns that he would be able to build them a staircase.  Thanking him profusely, the nuns readily agreed.  He offered to begin at once and naturally the nuns were very happy and quickly hired him. He agreed to be paid when he finished. Outside the church, the carpenter’s old mule stood patiently waiting, a box of tools securely tied to his back. According to some, for three months the carpenter refused to allow any visitors inside the church until one day he opened the doors. 

“When the Mother Superior heard that the staircase was finished she entered the church and looked in utter amazement. There in the left corner, neatly standing was a beautiful, freestanding staircase rising in a double spiral all the way to the choir’s loft.

 

Used by permission: Loretto Chapel

 

Maria continued. “The last time I was there our class took dozens of pictures and all sorts of measurements. Each section of the staircase is perfectly fitted in a groove—not a single nail used in its construction. There is no central pole and originally, no wall attachment. Even the hand railing was added later. The entire staircase is held together by just a few wooden pegs. Over time, as other carpenters from New Mexico and around the world came to see it for themselves, it was noticed how the wood that the craftsman had used was not even from the Santa Fe area!  

“Today, tourists from everywhere come to gaze at it. There is not a single expert who has examined the staircase that can conceive how a man with a box of primitive tools, over a hundred years ago was able to build such an intricate structure.      

“Rama, when you mentioned the legend of the two angels who disappeared after building the convent in Agreda, this is exactly what happened when the work was completed on the staircase. The abbess of the convent was so happy that naturally she wanted to pay the man for his work but he was nowhere to be found. No one had seen him come or go. A reward was offered but no one ever claimed it.

“It was then decided that the unknown carpenter was none other than an divine angel or St. Joseph himself, who the Sisters had prayed to for nine days. There is no doubt that the prayers of those nuns were answered in a most remarkable way.

“Please Rama, what else did Father Mark tell you about Mother Maria?