He was stationed at the missionary College of Santa Cruz de Querétaro, but was generally engaged in reaching missions in Yucatan, Costa Rica, Nicaragua, and especially in Guatemala.

[1] He always walked barefooted, without sandals, fasted every day in the year, never used meat or fish, and applied the discipline and other instruments of penance to himself.

Leaving Father Gusman in charge, Margil journeyed on foot to Natchitoches to minister to the French Catholics there, and then went back to Texas.

In 1718, during the brief war with Spain, the French Commandant at Natchitoches, invaded the Adai mission, plundered it, and carried away the church vestments.

Margil heard of it, and in 1721 came back, found the Adai who had taken refuge in the forests for fear of the French, and rebuilt their church, which he dedicated to Our Lady of the Pillar, the patroness of the expedition.

In 1836 Pope Gregory XVI declared Father Antonio Margil's virtues heroic, and he is now titled Venerable.