José Estanislao Zavala López

On June 7, 1888, José Estanislao received the habit of the Order of Saint Augustine in Yuriria under the name Miguel, and made his temporary profession on June 12, 1889. Driven out by anticlerical laws, he continued his studies clandestinely and was ordained a priest on February 17, 1894. He exercised his ministry in El Sabino, Querétaro, and then in Morelia as provincial definitor, provincial secretary, and novice master. From 1908, he dedicated himself to the parishes of Moroleón, Yuriria (supporting the population during the Cristero War), Mexico City, and Salvatierra. Nicknamed "the builder of temples of stone and souls," he begged for funds to restore sacred buildings while devoting himself to the poor, the sick, children, and the elderly.

Father Miguel Zavala López passed away on Good Friday, April 4, 1947, at the temple of the Preciosa Sangre de Cristo in Yuriria, at the age of 79. His death stirred deep emotion among the faithful who already considered him a saint during his lifetime. His reputation for holiness and heroic virtue continued to grow after his death, prompting the Order of Saint Augustine and the Archdiocese of Morelia to introduce his cause for beatification.

The cause for beatification officially began on March 28, 1995, with the nihil obstat decree from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The diocesan inquiry, opened on January 31, 1996, and closed on August 18, 1997, in Morelia, was validated by the Vatican on April 30, 1999. On December 21, 2018, Pope Francis authorized the promulgation of the decree recognizing the heroic nature of his virtues, conferring upon him the title of Venerable. A miracle attributed to his intercession remains required for his beatification.

The spirituality of the Venerable Miguel Zavala López is deeply rooted in the Augustinian tradition, characterized by intense prayer, contemplation, and fraternal charity. Despite his fragile constitution and small stature, which earned him the nickname "Padre Zavalita," his spiritual strength and joy attracted all the faithful. His legacy remains alive in Yuriria and in central Mexico as a model of humility and pastoral dedication. His remains rest in the parish temple of Yuriria, where the faithful continue to seek his intercession.