Everything about Saint Ita totally explained
Saint Ita, also known as
Saint Ida or
Saint Ides, (c.
475 –
January 15,
570), was an
Irish nun.
Ida, called the "
Brigid of
Munster", was born in the present County of
Waterford. 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 isn't 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.
St. Ita's AFC is the name of the association football club which is based in
Killeedy. The saint appears on the club's crest.
Another village in County Limerick, Kilmeedy is reputed to have links with the saint as well.
Further Information
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