Fr. Miguel’s Shrine Homilies

In this homily, Fr. Miguel explores our Lord’s challenging question to James and John. We often desire the "glory" of being near Jesus, but we forget the "chalice" that precedes it. Reflecting on the "willingness" of Christ’s sacrifice, Fr. Miguel discusses why we naturally recoil from the cross and how embracing our own "chalice of suffering" is the only ro...

Have you ever given someone advice, only to be put in a situation where you had to follow it yourself an hour later? Fr. Miguel shares a candid (and humorous) story about his struggle to be "generous to his neighbor" when a fellow friar asked him to cover a shift on his day off. In this homily, we look at why the hardest part of the spiritual life isn't speaking the truth, but living...

Why did Moses and Elijah appear with Jesus on Mount Tabor? St. Luke reveals they were discussing His "Exodus"—His departure through the Passion in Jerusalem. Fr. Miguel explores the essential context of the Transfiguration: it was given to the disciples to strengthen them for the "scandal of the Cross."

"Be perfect as your Heavenly Father is perfect." In this homily, Fr. Miguel discusses the difficult command to love our persecutors and pray for those who disagree with us. Using the example of Christ on Calvary and the teachings of St. Francis, we learn that true holiness isn't found in external appearances, but in how we treat the "unjust" in our lives.

What does it mean to truly "live"? Fr. Miguel explores the Book of Ezekiel to reveal the "formula" for eternal life. It isn’t just about turning away from sin—it’s about what we turn toward . In this homily, we learn why Confession is only the starting point and how the interior life of virtue surpasses the mere "appearances" of the Pharisees. As Mother Angelica said,...

In this homily, we reflect on Christ’s promise that the Father gives good things to those who ask Him. But what does it mean to ask rightly? And why does God sometimes refuse what we request? Through the example of Queen Esther, the wisdom of St. Thomas Aquinas, and the prayer of St. Francis before the crucifix, we learn that asking is an act of humility — and that God never gives what harms our s...

St. Anthony of Padua was such a powerful preacher that even the creatures of the sea stopped to listen. But what does this miracle teach us about the "Sign of Jonah" and our own response to God’s grace? Fr. Miguel contrasts the hardened hearts of 13th-century heretics with the repentant people of Nineveh, asking us a vital question for the Jubilee of St. Francis: Are we truly listening t...

"The devil made me do it" is a popular phrase, but is it true? Fr. Miguel examines the anatomy of temptation, from the Fall in Genesis to the fasting of Jesus in the Gospel. Using the imagery of Olympic athletes and their coaches, he explores our free will, the role of our Guardian Angels, and the reality that no one is forced to give in. Discover how to stop bringing "temptations&q...

St. Matthew left his tax stall; St. Francis left his father’s wealth. In this homily, Fr. Miguel connects these two great saints to our own spiritual lives. Learn why detachment is a gradual process and how we can use this Lenten season to remove oppression, false accusations, and malicious speech from our hearts and our social media feeds.

In this homily, Fr. Miguel reflects on Christ’s radical command — not a path to worldly success, but the sure road to eternal life. Highlighting the powerful conversion of St. Francis, once a pleasure-seeking young man hungry for honor and glory, we see how self-denial slowly opens the door to embracing the cross. This reflection explores how suffering, disappointment, illness, and even humiliatio...

It’s Ash Wednesday, the beginning of our 40-day journey. Fr. Miguel breaks down the traditional pillars of prayer, fasting, and almsgiving, emphasizing the "secret" interior life over exterior show.

In this homily, Fr. Miguel discusses the fundamental gift of free will. Whether it is choosing between life and death in the Old Testament or choosing between vanity and God in our daily lives, every moment is an opportunity to serve the true Master. Learn why Fr. Miguel challenges us to stop asking "What should I do for Lent?" and start asking "Lord, what do You want me to choose?&...

On the feast of the "Apostles to the Slavs," Fr. Miguel contrasts the self-serving idolatry of King Jeroboam with the radical availability of Saints Cyril and Methodius. While Jeroboam invented new feast days to serve his own power, these two brothers left positions of prestige and comfort in Constantinople to bring the true worship of God to distant lands. Fr. Miguel reminds us that hol...

In a striking prophetic gesture, the prophet Ahijah tore a new garment into twelve pieces to symbolize the coming division of Israel. In this homily, Fr. Miguel contrasts this "torn kingdom" with the seamless tunic of Jesus—woven from top to bottom and never divided. Discover why disobedience always leads to division, while Christ’s obedience leads to the unbreakable unity of the Catholi...

Fr. Miguel reflects on the first reading from the Book of Kings, detailing the downfall of Solomon and the importance of religious and personal obedience.

Not everyone who visits the spring at Lourdes receives a physical cure, but everyone receives a grace. Fr. Miguel discusses the documented miracles of Our Lady of Lourdes and the "supernatural conviction" that leads souls back to the Confessional. If you are carrying a burden of illness, cancer, or psychological trials, join Fr. Miguel in entrusting those intentions to the Immaculate Con...

Are you feeling scandalized by world events or overwhelmed by the constant buzz of digital distraction? Fr. Miguel shares how St. Colette’s "mission born in silence" offers a roadmap for our own spiritual lives today. Learn how to prioritize being at the feet of the Lord over the "activism" of the world and find the grace to remain faithful to your specific vocation—whether mar...

Long before the atomic bomb, Nagasaki was home to a "Holy Mountain." On February 5, 1597, twenty-six men, women, and children—including St. Paul Miki and St. Peter Baptist—were led to this hill to be crucified for their faith. In this homily, Fr. Miguel explores the heroic witness of the Japanese Martyrs and how their "slow death" on the cross mirrors the "slow death"...

Was St. Francis always a saint? Not even close. Before the 2026 Jubilee honors his holiness, we look at the shocking biography by Thomas of Celano. From being an "excessive instigator of evil" to "strutting through the streets of Babylon," Francis was a man of vanity and extravagance before his radical conversion. Discover how he transformed bitterness into sweetness and what h...

What makes a saint? It’s not just miracles—it’s "heroic virtue." In this homily, we celebrate the feast of St. Joseph of Leonissa, a 16th-century Capuchin friar whose zeal led him to face torture and miraculous survival. As we continue the 2026 Jubilee Year of St. Francis, we explore Joseph’s radical poverty, his year-long fast, and his role as a "peacemaker with a crucifix." L...

800 years after his death, St. Francis of Assisi remains the ultimate "portrait of Jesus." In this homily, we dive into the 2026 Jubilee Year of St. Francis and explore how the Beatitudes serve as a Christian's "identity card." Discover how to gain the plenary indulgence, why silence is often the best defense, and how you can become an Alter Christus —another Christ—to a wo...

On the memorial of St. John Bosco , Fr. Miguel reflects on a saint whose life was consumed by the fire of God’s love, especially for the young. Drawing from Don Bosco’s wisdom, personal stories, and the witness of the Cross, this homily explores patience over anger, service over authority, and love that forms souls for eternal life. A powerful reminder that holiness is built through daily sacrific...

In this powerful homily, Fr. Miguel reflects on King David’s dramatic fall—from lust to adultery, deception, and murder—and how one capital sin can quickly lead to many others. Drawing from Scripture, Psalm 51, and the wisdom of Mother Angelica, he reminds us that temptation is never harmless and grace is never optional. This reflection calls us to humility, vigilance, regular prayer, confession,...

In this homily, Fr. Miguel reflects on David’s prayer in Scripture and how it reveals the heart of true intercession—a prayer that moves beyond self and embraces others. From King David to Jesus Himself, we are shown that prayer is meant to expand the heart, carrying the needs of God’s people before the Father. Through personal stories, the witness of the saints, and powerful reminders about prayi...

On the feast of St. Thomas Aquinas, Fr. Miguel reflects on the life of the Angelic Doctor—once mocked as the “dumb ox,” yet destined to shape the Church for centuries. From his humility and intellectual brilliance to his deep love for the Eucharist, St. Thomas shows what it means to truly receive the Word of God and bear fruit thirty, sixty, and a hundredfold. This homily invites us to become rich...