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Article: January 15 + Saint Ita of Killeedy

January 15 + Saint Ita of Killeedy - VENXARA®

January 15 + Saint Ita of Killeedy

After Saint Brigid, Ita of Killeedy is the most famous woman saint in Ireland. She was born in 475 to noble Christian parents in Drum, County Waterford, Ireland.

From her baptism on, Ita was filled with the Holy Spirit. All marveled at her childhood purity and Christian virtues. Ita was said to embody the six virtues of Irish womanhood – wisdom, purity, beauty, musical ability, gentle speech and needle skills. As she got older, it became apparent that she wished to devote her life to God.

At the age of 16, Ita refused an offer of marriage, as she desired to consecrate her virginity to God. Her father refused to let her do this, until an angel reassured him that she would become an advocate for souls. With her father’s approval, Ita went to an elderly priest she had known from childhood and publicly professed her religious vows. Ita then left her father’s house and set out with companions to a place called Cluain Creadail which means “Holy Meadow,” which is now known as Killeedy.

When she decided to settle in Killeedy, a chieftain offered her a large grant of land to support the monastery. But Ita would accept only four acres, which she cultivated intensively. Ita and her community spent their time praying and caring for the sick, the poor and the elderly. The community also had a dairy farm, which was run by Ita, and the nuns supervised a school for boys, some of whom later became famous churchmen and saints. One of these was Saint Brendan, whom Saint Eric gave to Ita to raise when he was just a baby and Saint Pulcherius. Thus, she is known as the “Foster Mother of the Saints of Ireland.”

Brendan asked her what three things God especially loved. She replied, “True faith in God with a pure heart, a simple life with a religious spirit, and open-handedness inspired by charity.” And the three things which God most detested were: “A scowling face, a will that clings to the love of evil, and too great a confidence in the power of money.”

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