The Life of St. Ita
The name Ita means "thirst for holiness," reflecting a life lived in accordance with our Lord's teachings, echoing "Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness." Ita's zeal for Christ transformed Ireland's monastic landscape, fostering many great saints, earning her the nickname "The foster mother of Irish saints."
Ita was born into a noble family in Munster and from a young age requested her father allow her to live a life of virginity, to which he conceded. This was a significant concession from her father, who was King of Tara. He would have been expected to arrange a marriage for his daughter into a powerful family for political favor or peace, but fortunately for Ita, the Lord had different plans. From genealogical records, we know she was the cousin of St. Brigid of Kildare on her mother's side. Ita's nickname, "Brigid of Munster," is even more fitting given this fact. Beyond this, we know very little about her early life.
She was baptized in Drum, County Waterford, and she was said to embody the six virtues of an Irish woman: wisdom, purity, beauty, musical ability, gentle speech, and needlework. She moved to the place that now bears her name, Kileedy, at the age of sixteen, in County Limerick in the west of Ireland. Kileedy means Church of St. Ita, and the name is fitting, as she founded a convent there with a small group of consecrated nuns, with whom she spent her life.
Church tradition says Ita was guided to Kileedy by three heavenly lights, all of which sat atop various mountains along the way, the final light indicating the spot where she stopped and built her convent. At this place, she was conferred the veil by Bishop Declan of Ardmore, who in fact preceded St. Patrick in spreading Christianity in Ireland. St. Patrick would have died when Ita was around 13; whether they ever met is unknown. Patrick was well known by the Kings and Queens of Ireland, regularly cursing those whom he saw as blocking the will of our Lord and blessing those whom he saw as righteous. Therefore, it is possible their paths crossed, or at least her father's path may have crossed with Patrick's, but this is speculation.
Despite growing up as the daughter of a powerful king, she never felt she needed more than what she truly required. On one occasion, when a powerful chieftain offered her a large parcel of land for her convent, she stated she only needed four acres, and she cultivated those four acres intensively for her convent. She established a religious school for boys on the land. This school produced future saints such as St. Brendan the Voyager, who had a very close, spiritual friendship with Ita. He would visit her between his voyages and seek her guidance in his biggest spiritual battles.
In this way, Ita played the role of spiritual mother to many people of Ireland, both men and women. At this time, the Celtic Orthodox Church was far ahead of the rest of the Orthodox World in recognizing the qualities of strong women for leadership in spiritual and teaching roles. Additionally, Ita's fasting, praying, and vigilance led her to have gifts such as prophecy, which attracted many people due to her holiness. She was even the abbess of a double monastery for both men and women. Ita was not an outlier among women with these leadership qualities; St. Brigid was also a strong leader and dedicated spiritual teacher, as were St. Ciara and Saint Fanchea of Rossory, among others.
Interestingly, St. Erc, a bishop at that time (and a former pagan priest converted by St. Patrick before a deadly battle), left the orphaned Brendan with Ita when he was only one year old. This is another example of St. Patrick's impact on the next generations of saints after his death. Many of the earliest Irish saints can be traced directly back to Patrick. Another saint she raised from childhood was her nephew, Saint Mochaemhoch, who went on to become a monk in Bangor Abbey under Saint Comgall of Bangor.
On returning from one of his voyages, Brendan asked Ita, "What three things did God love best?" "True faith in God and a pure heart, a simple life with a religious spirit, and open-handedness inspired by charity," she answered. The three things God most detested were "a scowling face, obstinacy in wrongdoing, and too great a confidence in the power of money."
Although today her monastery is no longer in use and all that is left behind are ruins, the well that served the monastery is still barely visible, almost reclaimed by nature. This well is the site of many miracles and was used during smallpox outbreaks to cure many sick people.
Ita herself was famous in Ireland for her holiness, discernment, leadership, miracles, and prophecy. Although famous for her miracles, no written records seem to remain documenting these. In Ireland, at that time, oral tradition was still far more important than written documentation. For this reason, we lack much information about many of the saints.
Today, St. Ita is still known in Ireland, with hospitals, churches, and other public buildings bearing her name. St. Ita of Kileedy and foster mother of the Irish saints, pray to God for us!