Saint Ita
Saint Ita of Killeedy (born c. 480 AD in County Waterford, Ireland; died January 15, 570 AD in Killeedy, County Limerick, Ireland) was an Irish abbess and mystic who founded a monastic school at Killeedy in County Limerick where she fostered and educated Saint Brendan the Navigator as a child. She is called the Foster Mother of the Saints of Ireland and is one of the most beloved Irish women saints, second only to Saint Brigid of Kildare. She was known for extreme asceticism, mystical prayer, and care of the poor and sick. Her feast day is January 15.
Stored in Cargo: Saint Ita
| Saint Ita | |
|---|---|
| Feast Day | January 15 |
| Profession | Abbess; mystic; teacher; foster mother of saints |
| Rel. Affiliation | Catholic Church; Celtic monastic tradition; Abbess of Killeedy; Foster Mother of the Saints of Ireland |
| Patronage | County Limerick; Killeedy; Ireland; abbesses; foster mothers; Irish Christian heritage; children; those who care for others; Saint Brendan's voyages |
| Attributes | Abbess's veil and staff; Infant Jesus (her vision of nursing Christ); swan (an Irish symbol of purity); holy well; lullaby |
| Birthplace | County Waterford, Munster, Ireland |
| Death Place | Killeedy, County Limerick, Ireland |
| Cause of Death | Natural causes; died at her monastery at Killeedy, January 15, 570 AD |
| Primary Shrine | Killeedy (Cell Íde), County Limerick, Ireland — the ruins of her ancient church and her holy well; a place of pilgrimage since the 6th century; the patron feast (January 15) draws pilgrims to Killeedy |
| Liturgical Class | Not in universal Roman Calendar; feast January 15; observed in the Diocese of Limerick, Diocese of Kerry, and throughout Ireland |
| Historic Class | Not in universal 1962 calendar; locally observed in Ireland |
Biography
Ita (Íde in Irish, Meda in Latin sources) was born around 480 in County Waterford into a noble Irish family. Refusing an arranged marriage, she left home to consecrate herself to God and eventually settled at Killeedy (Cell Íde) in County Limerick, where she founded her monastic community. The name of the place — Church of Ita — preserves her memory across fifteen centuries.
She became one of the great centers of the spiritual life in Munster. She was sought as a spiritual advisor by men and women from across Ireland. Most famously, she took in the young Brendan, fostering and educating him for five years before he went to study with other teachers. He is said to have returned to her repeatedly for counsel throughout his life, including before his legendary sea voyages; she reportedly told him to go on pilgrimage for the glory of God.
She was known for extreme asceticism: fasting, barefoot walking, hair-shirt wearing, sleeping on stone. She was also known for great personal warmth, particularly toward children and the sick. She was a mystic: the most famous account of her inner life is her vision of nursing the Christ Child, which she celebrated in a lullaby — one of the earliest surviving poems in the Irish language.
She died on January 15, 570 at Killeedy. Her holy well and the ruins of her church remain a place of pilgrimage.
Significant locations
Legend
Birth location: County Waterford, Munster, Ireland
Death location: Killeedy, County Limerick, Ireland
Notable location:
Notable location: The great monastery of Saint Brendan the Navigator, whom Ita fostered as a child at Killeedy; Brendan returned to visit her and sought her counsel; their relationship is one of the most touching in Irish hagiography — the great mariner asking advice of the abbess who had nursed him as a boy (Clonfert, County Galway, Ireland)
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Dynamic content
Parishes
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| This map created from a Cargo query () |
Media
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Shrines
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Known shrines
- Killeedy (Cell Íde), County Limerick, Ireland — her holy well and church ruins; active pilgrimage site; feast day January 15.
Feast day
January 15
Veneration
Saint Ita is venerated in the Roman Catholic Church with a feast day on January 15, observed throughout Ireland. She is the Foster Mother of the Saints of Ireland and one of the greatest Irish women saints.
Prayers
Authored
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Intercessory
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