Ita
A.D. 570
Feast Day: January 15

The Celtic churches contained many female saints, but few of them, beyond Brigit and Hilda are well known to us. One of the most influential in Irish Christianity was Ita, known as the foster-mother of  the saints of Ireland. The term foster-mother had a special significance in Celtic lands. It was long a custom, carried over into the Christian era, for children of notable houses to be given over to foster parents for their  early upbringing. These foster parents were usually druids or other influential members of the community. Itas role as foster-mother to the saints of Ireland speaks of the high regard in which she was held by the Christian  community.

 Ita was a descendant of one of the more powerful families in Ireland. Her ancestor, Feidhlimidh Reachtmiher, ruled supreme in that tribal and fractious land from the royal hill fort of Tara. Her  original name, according to some sources, was Deirdre. She was given the name Ita from the Irish word iota meaning thirst, due to her great thirst from the things of God. In this new name she joins Francis of Assisi in being one of the few saints canonized by their nicknames. (Francis name at baptism was Giovanni.) Itas path to the Christian life was not easy. Both of her parents were opposed to her desire to become a nun. When others of her clan added their support to this petition, her fathers position hardened all the more. Ita, in response, gave her supporters a prophecy, not to despair for God himself would come to her aid and change her fathers heart.

 Shortly thereafter Ita began a fast. During the three days and nights of her fasting she found herself engulfed in spiritual warfare against demonic foes. As Ita persevered in her discipline she  saw a dejected devil leave her with the words: Alas, Ita, you will free yourself from me, and many others too will be delivered. Oddly, Itas fasting as a means of spiritual warfare has a biblical precedent. The prophet Daniel  began a fast in order to hear the purposes and promises of God. After three weeks the angel Gabriel came to him to reveal the meaning of a troubling vision. Gabriel informed him that he had been delayed by the Prince of Persia,  thought by some commentators to refer to a fallen angelic being with territorial authority. Only the arrival of the archangel Michael freed Gabriel to carry out his mission. In Itas life, after the dejected devil had departed,  an angel of God came that night and instructed her father to let her have her will.

 Ita settled at the foot of Sliabh Luachra among the people of Ui Conaill. Her reputation for holiness and mighty works grew until the chieftain of that people came to her and offered her all the  surrounding lands. But Ita, wary of political alliance refused all but a patch of four acres in which to grow vegetables. It is a pity that the Church has not always been so wary of accepting gifts from worldly powers. Itas  passion for spiritual discipline drew her to frequent fasts. God sent an angel with a warning about excess in her practice, and when she balked at reducing her discipline the angel informed her that God would send angels with  heavenly food that she could not refuse.

 One of the saints whom Ita mentored was Brendan the voyager. After Brendans early voyage in a coracle made of cow hides, Ita took him to task for not consulting her earlier. She pointed out that  the land of promise which Brendan sought was unsullied by the shedding of blood. If he were to seek it in a boat of animal hides he would never find it. It would be best if he were to use wood instead.

 Ita is remembered for a pair of triads on pleasing and displeasing God:

Three things that please God most are
 true faith in God with a pure heart,
 a simple life with a grateful spirit,
 and generosity inspired by charity.

The three things that most displease God are
 a mouth that hates people,
 a heart haboring resentments,
 and confidence in wealth.

On the whole, her triads seem a rule of life excellent in their simplicity.

(Most of this article is taken from the life of Ita in Edward Sellner’s Wisdom of the Celtic Saints)