Gifted by God with a brilliant mind, St. Alphonsus resolved early in life never to waste a moment. By age 16 he was awarded a doctorate in civil and Canon Law with the highest honors, but by age 26 he had renounced life as a lawyer and became a priest, dedicating his ministry particularly to preaching, and especially to preaching missions. Under the inspiration of a series of visions seen by several holy nuns, he was led to found, first the Redemptoristine nuns for women, and shortly thereafter the Congregation of the Most Holy Redeemer for men, to which his name will be forever linked. As a Redemptorist, he personally conducted scores of missions and reconciled tens of thousands to Christ and His Church.

Miracles abounded in his life at least two of which were witnessed by the entire congregation in church and include prophecy, bilocation, ecstasy, apparitions, cures, and various other miracles. On one occasion, when Mt. Vesuvius was threatening to erupt and was actually shooting flames, it became quiescent as soon as St. Alphonsus blessed it. St. Alphonsus Liguori is not just another saint or writer among many others, for it was largely through the influence of his books, for example, that the rigors of the Jansenist heresy were counteracted and the consoling mercy and love of God were taught in their place. And many Popes and urged, recommended, and even commanded that his writings be published and read widely by Catholics everywhere.