A Short History of San Miguel Mission, by Ryan Thornton, OFM Murals, madness, and murder. This is the history of Mission San Miguel Arcángel, rich with tales of poisoned padres and murderous desperados. In a new book, a Franciscan friar who lived, worked, and studied at Mission San Miguel offers an insider's take on the history of the place. Combining the art of story-telling with well-researched facts, this book is the perfect introduction to Mission San Miguel, no matter what age.