Today we celebrate our Venerable Mother Ita the Hermitess of Killeedy. Saint Ita was of illustrious descent and was born into Irish nobility. As a child, all marvelled at her purity and virtue, especially her generosity and gentleness in both word and deed. She excelled in the “six gifts” of Irish womanhood – wisdom, purity, beauty, music, sweet speech, and embroidery. Refusing to marry and spurning the worldly life of riches and comfort, she left the world and with her great inheritance, founded a school and convent at Killeedy, a county which still bears her name to this day. At her convent, she accepted children whom she raised into piety, many of them becoming great beacons of Christianity in Ireland, and thus, Saint Ita became known as the “Foster Mother of the Irish Saints”. One of the saints whom she raised from only a year old was Saint Brendan the Navigator, whom she instilled great Christian piety upon. She often counselled him about the three things most displeasing to God: a face that hates mankind, a will that clings to the love of evil, and placing one’s entire trust in riches. She also taught him the three things which are most pleasing to God: the firm belief of a pure heart in God, the simple religious life, and liberality with charity. Many, including Saint Brendan, would often come to her for spiritual counsel throughout their lives, and many received healing from her as she knew much about both physical and spiritual medicine. The Hermitess Ita reposed peacefully in the Lord at an old age. Her feast day remains a local holiday in her district and many Irish girls are named after the the Saint, being second in line to Saint Brigid of Kildare. May she intercede for us always + #saint #ita #ireland #hermit #hermitess #convent #monastery #nun #virtue #killeedy #irish #christian #spiritual #holy #mother #abbess #brendan #stbrendan #brigid #bridget #stbrigid #stbridget #kildare #fostermother #foster #irish #orthodox #sophia
