Fr. Miguel’s Shrine Homilies

In this beautiful homily on John 15, Fr. Miguel reflects on Jesus’ heartfelt command: “Remain in my love.” We remain in His love by keeping His commandments — all Ten Commandments — and by loving one another as He has loved us: with self-sacrificial, generous love.Fr. Miguel explains how remaining in Christ’s love deepens our holiness, strengthens our union with God and others, renews our baptismal promises, and prepares us for eternal life. He draws wisdom from St. Francis, St. Clare, and Mother Angelica, who taught that being a saint means loving when not loved in return, being patient when frustrated, loving people as they are (not as we want them to be), and standing for truth even when alone.A timely and practical call in this month of May: stay rooted in Jesus’ love amid all the distractions and cares of the world.

In this powerful homily on John 15, Fr. Miguel reflects on Jesus’ teaching: “I am the true vine, and my Father is the vine grower.” Every branch that bears fruit is pruned so it can bear even more fruit.Fr. Miguel explains that pruning — though painful — is an act of God’s love. It involves cutting away selfishness, attachments, bad habits, and our own will so we can grow in virtue and become more like Christ. He shares Mother Angelica’s wisdom: if we don’t prune ourselves through self-knowledge and self-denial, God will permit events in our lives (sometimes crushing ones) to reveal our faults and help us grow.With vulnerable honesty, Fr. Miguel talks about his own ongoing struggle with patience — especially in traffic — and how God uses such moments to prune us and teach surrender.A beautiful and practical message for anyone going through trials: God prunes us not to harm us, but to make us more fruitful for His Kingdom.

In this beautiful May homily, Fr. Miguel reflects on Jesus’ consoling words in John 14: “Do not let your hearts be troubled. Have faith in God and have faith also in me… I am the Way, the Truth, and the Life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”Fr. Miguel reminds us that faith doesn’t always remove the “queasy feeling” (as Mother Angelica famously described), but it carries us through troubled hearts. He draws powerful examples from Our Lady’s own troubled moments — the Annunciation, the Finding of Jesus in the Temple, and especially standing at the foot of the Cross — showing her unwavering faith and trust in God.This May crowning homily invites us to renew our consecration to Mary, who leads us to Jesus, the only Way to the Father. A comforting and timely message for anyone experiencing anxiety, uncertainty, or a troubled heart.Mary, Mother of God, pray for us!

In this inspiring homily for the Feast of St. Athanasius, Bishop and Doctor of the Church, Fr. Miguel highlights the great defender of Catholic orthodoxy who courageously fought Arianism and helped secure the Church’s clear teaching that Jesus Christ is true God and true man.Thanks to St. Athanasius, every Sunday we profess in the Nicene Creed: “God from God, Light from Light, true God from true God, begotten, not made, consubstantial with the Father.” Exiled five times for his unwavering faith, St. Athanasius remained a champion of truth despite suffering.Fr. Miguel also marks the 39th anniversary of the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word (founded by Mother Angelica on May 2, 1987), reflecting on their shared mission to preach and live the Eternal Word — Jesus Christ truly present in the Eucharist.A powerful reminder that we are all called to know, love, and defend the full truth about Jesus — true God and true man — with courage and perseverance.St. Athanasius, pray for us!

On the Feast of St. Joseph the Worker, Fr. Miguel reflects on the silent but powerful example of St. Joseph — a man whose life was defined by doing God’s will through humble, diligent work. As patron of workers, St. Joseph shows us that all work — whether paid, at home, or volunteer — can become a path to holiness when done with virtue. Fr. Miguel highlights how work exercises diligence, perseverance, honesty, and charity, helping us become more fully human. Drawing from St. John Paul II and Pope Benedict XVI, he reminds us that work must serve the true good of humanity and never become an idol. Even simple daily tasks like making the bed or cleaning can be offered to God. Through the intercession of St. Joseph, may we sanctify our daily labor and imitate his faithful service to Jesus and Mary.

Fr. Miguel reflects on Jesus’ words after washing the disciples’ feet: “No slave is greater than his master, nor any messenger greater than the one who sent him” (John 13). We cannot skip the Cross to reach the Resurrection. Just as Jesus endured His Passion out of love for the Father and for us, we too must follow Him through our own Good Fridays. Fr. Miguel draws wisdom from St. Francis of Assisi, who begged the Lord to experience both the sorrows of the Cross and the joy of doing the Father’s will — and received the stigmata. He also highlights the humility of Christ, who washed dirty feet and served lepers through St. Francis’ example. True discipleship means humble service, patient endurance of trials, and loving one another without wishing to be greater than our Master. A powerful call to embrace the Cross with love, just as the Risen Lord did.

We often think of spiritual danger as something far away, but as St. Francis of Assisi discovered, the greatest threats often begin with a single, uncharitable thought. Today, we conclude our journey through John 10 by examining how the Good Shepherd protects us—not just from external trials, but from the internal "poison" that threatens our souls.Through a dramatic account from Franciscan tradition, we hear how a single friar’s desire for revenge allowed a demon to enter an otherwise holy place. It took the intervention of a faithful "sheep"—St. Francis—and the mercy of the Good Shepherd to deliver him from the hands of the beast.May we always heed the voice of the Shepherd, who doesn't just watch over us from afar, but intervenes to save us from ourselves.

We live in a world where "important people" are defined by their status and the security details that surround them. But in this homily, we flip that perspective: you are so important to God that He has provided the ultimate protection—not just for this short life, but for eternity.Drawing from a personal journey to the Holy Land and the experience of finally holding a five-day-old lamb, we explore the dual nature of Christ: He is the Good Shepherd who fiercely protects His flock, but He is also the Lamb of God, whose docility and sacrifice on the Cross opened the gates to eternal life.