From: rich <
richarra@gmail.com>
January 15th - St. Ita of Killeedy
(475?-570 A.D.)
St. Ita is considered second only to St. Brigid among the ancient
women saints of Ireland.
Ita is reputed to have been a descendant of one of Ireland's kings.
She was born near the present city of Waterford in the province of
Munster, and baptized under the lovely name of Deirdre.
When she became marriageable, Deirdre was courted by a noble suitor.
In those days it was customary for the father to accept such a
proposal. Deirdre, however, had already decided to become a nun. For
three days she prayed that her father would see it her way. The prayer
was granted, and she left home for the monastery with his blessing.
Exile from one's birthplace was one of the self-imposed penances of
the old Irish religious. Deirdre traveled to Hy-Conall in the western
part of County Limerick. There she established the monastery where she
would pass the rest of her life, surrounded by the many nuns who
placed themselves under her guidance. The convent came to be known as
Killeedy, that is, =E2=80=9CIta's cell,=E2=80=9D for on taking the =
veil she had
adopted the religious name Ita. Not much is known in detail about her
life as a nun. In general she gained a reputation for prophecy and miracle-working, and visitors came from afar to seek her advice.
St. Ita conducted a school for small boys. She must have been an
inspiring teacher, for among her pupils were the future St. Fachtna of
Ross, St. Pulcherius of Liath, St. Cummian of Clonfert, and St.
Brendan of Clonfert. Brendan became known as Brendan the Voyager,
because he sailed the Atlantic, perhaps even to America.
It is said that as a child Brendan asked St. Ita what three things God
loved best. She replied, =E2=80=9CTrue faith in God with a pure heart, simp=
le
life with a religious spirit, and openhandedness inspired by charity.=E2=80= =9D
=E2=80=98=E2=80=9DAnd what three things,=E2=80=9D the child continued, =E2= =80=9Cdoes God most
dislike?=E2=80=9D Ita said, =E2=80=9CA face which scowls upon all mankind, = obstinacy
in wrongdoing, and an overweening confidence in the power of money.=E2=80=
=9D
Sometime after St. Ita's death her convent was superseded by a
monastery of Benedictine monks. Their monastery is now also a ruin,
but people still visit the tomb of St. Ita there and decorate it with
flowers. She had won favor not only in Ireland but in Cornwall and
even farther afield.
These ancient Irish saints were not canonized by the popes, for papal canonization was a later practice. A century ago, however, the bishop
of Limerick received permission from Pope Pius IX to observe St. Ita=E2=80= =99s
feast on January 15. She is the patron saint of the diocese of
Limerick.
History connects St. Ita with a lovely Gaelic lullaby in honor of the
Child Jesus, =E2=80=9CJesukin=E2=80=9D. Apparently she was not the author, =
as was long
believed, but the ninth-century poet who wrote it was inspired by the
gentle devotion of this motherly little nun. Here is the lullaby.
Jesukin
Lives my little cell within;
What were wealth of cleric high,
All is lie but Jesukin.
Nursing nurtured, as 'tis right,
Harbors here no servile spright,
Jesu of the skies, who are
Next my heart through every night.
Jesu, more than angel aid,
Fostering not formed to fade,
Nursed by me in desert wild,
Jesu, Child ofJudah's Maid.
Unto heaven's High King contest
Sing a chorus, maidens blest!
He is o'er us, though within
Jesukin is on our breast.
=E2=80=93Father Robert
Saint Quote:
Without fail, [the vice of sodomy] brings death to the body and
destruction to the soul. It pollutes the flesh, extinguishes the light
of the mind, expels the Holy Spirit from the temple of the human
heart, and gives entrance to the devil, the stimulator of lust.
--Saint Peter Damian
Bible Quote:
By his divine power, he has lavished on us all the things we need for
life and for true devotion, through the knowledge of him who has
called us by his own glory and goodness. Through these, the greatest
and priceless promises have been lavished on us, that through them you
should share in the divine nature and escape the corruption rife in
the world through disordered passion. 2Peter 1:3-4
<><><><>
FOR CHURCH UNITY
Almighty and eternal God,
You have promised that there will someday be but one fold and one Sheph= erd.
Hasten that day, we pray You,
in Your most merciful kindness and generosity.
Pour the light of Your grace
into the minds of our non-Catholic friends
so that they may see the truth,
and fully realize that the truth is one and undivided.
Give them also the strength of will
needed to follow in the direction of the light You give them.
Let us, their neighbors and friends,
not be a hindrance to their conversion by our bad example.
Rather let Your goodness be made clear to them by the virtue of our liv= es.
Then may they finally all be brought to You,
the Light that enlightens every man who comes into the world.
Amen
--- NewsGate v1.0 gamma 2
* Origin: News Gate @ Net396 -Huntsville, AL - USA (1:396/4)