Portal:Catholicism/Patron Archive/January 15

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Saint Ita, also known as Saint Ida or Saint Ides, Deirdre, Ita of Killeedy, Meda, Mida and Ytha (c. 475 – January 15, 570), was an Irish nun.

Ida, called the "Brigid of Munster", was born named Deirdre in the present County of Waterford. She was the daughter of Cennfoelad or Confhaola, a descendant of Felim the lawgiver and his wife Necta. It is said, that, when a rich man wanted to marry her, after fastening and praying for three days, she succeeded to convince her father, to let her live the life of a virgin.

She became a nun, settling down at Cluain Credhail, a place-name that has ever since been known as Kileedy--that is, "Church of St. Ita"--in County Limerick. There, she was the head of a community of women. That group seems to have had a school for little boys where the boys were taught "Faith in God with purity of heart; simplicity of life with religion; generosity with love". Her pupils are said to have included Saint Brendan. Her legend places a great deal of emphasis on her austerities are told by St. Cuimin of Down, and numerous miracles are recorded of her. She is also said to be the originator of an Irish lullaby for the infant Jesus, an English version of which was set for voice and piano by the American composer Samuel Barber. She probably died of cancer though contemporary chroniclers describe how her side was consumed by a beetle which eventually grew to the size of a pig, understandable given the early medieval conflation of sanctity and suffering. The particular species of beetle is not described.

She was also endowed with the gift of prophecy and was held in great veneration by a large number of contemporary saints, men as well as women. When she felt her end approaching she sent for her community of nuns, and invoked the blessing of heaven on the clergy and laity of the district around Kileedy. Not alone was St. Ita a saint, but she was the foster-mother of many saints, including St. Brendan the Navigator, St. Pulcherius (Mochoemog) and Cummian. At the request of Bishop Butler of Limerick, Pope Pius IX granted a special Office and Mass for the feast of St. Ita, which is kept on January 15.
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Patronage: Diocese of Limerick, Ireland
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