Takingsomecompanions
with her, she sought the place indicated f and having arrived in the present county of Limerick, within that portion of it now designated the barony of Glenquin, an angel appeared to her, and pointed out the exact spot on which herestablishmentshouldbeerected.
O'Hanlon - Lives of the Irish Saints - v1
Brendan,
Abbot of Clonfert, before she became an abbess. ^^ By the father's side, she
was descended from the Nan Desii family,^3 She was bom probably in some
part of the present Waterford county. ^^ Our saint's parents appear to have
been Christians, from the circumstance of her having been baptized when
an infant. The first name by which she had been called was Derthrea,
Deirdre,^5 or Dorothea, according to many of our old Martyrologists. ^^ On
account of an extraordinary thirst for Divine love she experienced, it is said
her name was afterwards changed to Ita. With its various readings, this word
"
'* This warrior-monarch is said to have told : St. Ita or Mida was daughter of Kenn-
fallen on the plain of Cobha. Colgan tells us, that in the copy of St. Ita's Life, which he
foelad, son of Conchorb, son of Comorbur, son to Conall, son of ^ngus, son to Art- corb, son of Fiach Suigde, son to Felim the Lawgiver. See Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemise," xv. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Itae, cap. i. , iii. , pp. 72, 73.
used for publication, Cotha was erroneously
put for Cobha, as found in the Codex Insu-
lensisandelsewhere. Hetellsus,thatthiswas
a celebrated plain of Ulster, commonly called
Mag Cobha. But the " Annals of the Four
Masters" state, that Conn of the Hundred
Battles was killed not at Cobha, but by Ti-
braite Tireach, son to Mai, son to Roch-
raidhe, King of Ulster, at Tuath-Amrois. of Kennfoelad. See Colgan's Acta Sanc-
Ibid,, vol. i. , pp. 104, 105. Mr. O'Donovan was not able to identify Tuath-Amrois, but
torum Hiberniae," xv. Januarii. Vita S.
Itae. Appendix, cap. i. , p. 72.
*° See "The of Martyrology Donegal,"
says,
" It must have been the name of a
he
district very near the Hill of Tara, as King Conn was murdered while making prepara- tions for the Feis Teamracti, according to
"
'5 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. L, pp. 102 to 105, and notes.
'* As may be seen in the first and third chapters of St. Declan's Life, according to the "'Menologic Genealogy," chap, xvi. , they were Rossius, Eugenius, and Artcorbius.
"
The time ol her birth is not recorded ; but it must have been some years prior to A. D. 484, if it be true that she had for some time under her care Brendan of Clonfert, when an infant. " Dr. Lanigan's "Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sec. i. , p. 81. And at note 4, p. 83, on this passage. Dr. Lanigan remarks : "Bren- dan is spoken of several times, in St. Ita's Life, without any allusion to this part of his history, which is to be found only in what is called his own Life, a document much less respectable than the other. "
the older authorities.
Note (s), ibid.
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," XV. Januarii. Vita S. It£e, cap. i. , p. 66, and nn. I, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, p. 71. O'Flaherty seems to follow the latter statement, in refer- ence to the names of Fiach's sons. See
See Colgan's
-^ The Irish word Nandesi has a like fication with the Latin "Desiorum. " For ''Thus the "Menologic Genealogy," at that time, and even to-day, the coimtry
"Ogygia," Pars iii. , cap. Ixix. , p. 339.
chap, xvi. , draws her pedigree : Ita was and people belong to the Decies.
daughter to Kennfoelad, son of Corbmac, son to Conchebar, son of Conall, son of
" King-
son to Arthurb, son of Fiach Sui-
Miss M. F. Cusack's " of the History
^ngus,
gdhe, son of King Feidlimid.
Selbach, in
dom of Kerry," chap, iii. , p. 45.
accordswiththis
the ancient writer of St. Ita's Acts, pub- lished by Colgan. Yet the Calendar of Cashel has a slight difference. There we are
*s to the " According
"
chap. XV. ,
account,
asdoes
Martyrology
of
'* In his tract on the " Mothers of the
Saints of Ireland," lib. iv. , cap. 42.
'9 St. ^ngus the Culdee, writes that Necta was mother to St. Mida, the daughter
edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. ib, 17. *'
^ By Dr. Lanigan.
''
signi-
^^ " St. Ita was a member of the Desii or
Uandesi family, now located in Waterford.
Donegal.
^ Notably the " Calendar of Cashel," a
very ancient document.
"
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 203
Scarcely had this very distinguished virgin attained the dawning percep-
tions of childhood, when she seemed possessed with a plenitude of the Holy
Spirit ; and the grace of baptismal innocence appeared to sustain her, through all future actions and incidents of her life. From the moment she was
able to speak and walk, her innate modesty betrayed itself in every word, look, and gesture. Her discourse was full of prudence, and her manners
were truly characterized by a winning grace and gentleness. She always cul- tivated the spirit of continency, and no expression ever fell from her lips but suchasbecameavirgindedicatedtoGod. Himshebothlovedandfeared, with all the earnestness and constancy of a soul uncontaminated by the follies and imperfections of many children about her own age. Her resolutions were remarkable for their fidelity to the pious purposes she evoked, during years of infancy ; and, with a tender solicitude, she always feared the most remote stain of crime. She laboured to attain each day the acquisition or increase of some virtue. Her actions and manners were the admiration of all, while to her great suavity of disposition, she joined most sincere humility. Even on fasting days of precept, the abstinence of this pious child was re- markable ; so that, in fine, while living under the roof of her parents, she was regarded as a model of dove-like innocence and sanctity. She was deemed a vessel of election, in reference to her future career, as connected with the Irish Church.
During her infancy many miracles attested Ita's sanctity. It is related, that on a particular occasion, while this youthful maiden slept alone in her chamber, the whole apartment appeared to be in a blaze ; and when certain persons rushed thither to extinguish this fire, the child was found uninjured, as also the room in which she slumbered. It was miraculously revealed to them, that God's grace already burned in this infant's soul, of which those external flames were only an image. Being aroused from her sleep, the child
assumed an angehc form of exquisite and supernatural beauty, so that her nearest familiars could not recognise her identity ; and, after presenting this appearance for a short time, she resumed natural shape and features. As the author of her life remarks, these were remarkable for grace and comeliness. At another time, during her slumbers, the angel of God appeared, and pre- sented her with three jewels of great value. He assured her that the Blessed Spirits and Three Persons of the Most Adorable Trinity, represented by the jewels given, should often be present with her while sleeping and waking. ^? Such miracles as these gave promise of future sanctity and exalted favours, for which she was destined.
CHAPTER 11.
ST. ITA DECLINES AN OFFER FOR MARRIAGE—SHE GAINS THE CONSENT OF HER PARENTS TO LEAD A SINGLE LIFE—SHE ASSUMES THE VEIL OF VIRGINITY—OPPOSITION OF THE DEMONS—GUIDED BY AN ANGEL TO HER PLACE IN HY-CONAILL—SEVERA—L HOLY VIRGINS PLACE THEMSELVES UNDER HER DIRECTION AT CLUAIN-CREDHUIL DESCRIPTION OF ANTIQUITIES THERE—GREAT VENERATION OF THE CHIEF AND PEOPLE OF HY-CONAILL FOR ST. ITA—HER AUSTERITIES AND MIRACLES—HER SPIRI- TUAL GIFTS.
When the maiden grew up, a certain young noble sought her in marriage. With this object in view, he had already gained the consent of her father, without consulting her own incHnations. But the holy virgin had centered her affections on a Heavenly Spouse ;
=7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibar- niae," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Ita, cap. ii. , iii. ,
p. 66. Other accounts tend to prove her extraordinary virtues.
and, impelled by the Divine spirit, she
204 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 15.
soughtaninterviewwithhermother. Thenexpatiatingontheexcellenceof Divine counsels, Ita procured her mother's consent to communicate to her
father, Kennfoelad, the substance of his daughter's most earnest desires, to consecrate herself to God, in a state of holy virginity. Incensed at this her
declaration, about to destroy ill-judged paternal ambition, Kennfoelad denied with an oath, that he would give consent to the accomplishment of her virtuous resolutions. Whereupon, filled with the spirit of prophecy, Ita
" Bear with
said to those who were
although he now forbids me to consecrate myself to Christ, yet hereafter he shall persuade and even command me to go whithersoever I desire, in order to serve God, he being impelled to act in this manner by our Lord Jesus Christ. "' A short time subsequent to this occurrence, St. Ita fasted con- tinuously three days and three nights. During this time, she was constantly assaulted by temptations of the Devil, whose wiles our pious virgin success- fully resisted. On the last of those nights, the enemy of her salvation ap- peared in a mournful and dejected guise. He vanished, at dawn of day,
present :
my
father for a because while,
"
othersfromme. " Duringthissamenight,anangeloftheLordappearedto
saying sorrowfully :
Alas ! Ita, not only will you withdraw yourself, but many
our saint's " in the name of do father, saying : Why, Christ,
you prevent your daughter from taking the veil of virginity ? For, Ita shall be a great and holy virgin before God and His saints, and she shall become an advocate for manyonthedayofjudgment. Notonlyshouldyouallowhertoassume the habit of virginity, but you ought permit her wheresoever she pleases to follow Christ. In another part of the country shall she serve our Lord, and become patron over the race that inhabits it. " Immediately, Kinnfoelad
sought his daughter, and told her what had occurred. Moreover, according to her prediction, he not only gave her permission to assume the veil, but he even counselled her on that very day to depart for whatever place she chose. '
Having obtained this permission, the virgin instantly proceeded on her way to a church, which was situated in the Nan-desii country. During this journey, she was encountered by demons, who endeavoured to obstruct her passage; buttheangelsofGodaffordedherprotection,andputthosead- versaries to flight. The evil spirits were heard proclaiming their discomfiture,
be able to
and " Woe to for henceforth we shall no saying : us,
longer
against this virgin. We have desired to avenge our injuries on her to-day, and the angels of God afforded her assistance : she shall destroy our influence in various places, and she shall snatch many souls from our dominion, both in this world and in the next ! " Having received consolation from angels,
she proceeded to the church, where she took a vow of virginity, and received her veil at the hands of venerable ecclesiastics,3 who were already aware of those miraculous favours she had received. * Then, she besought the guidance
Chap. ii. —' See
torum Hibemise," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. iv. , p. 66.
" See Bishop Challoner's
Sancta," part i. , jS. 39. "
Lanigan,
"
that St. Declan of Ardmore was
Colgan's
" Acta Sane-
garding
the exact time and term for St.
" Britannia 3 It is not improbable," says Dr.
Declan's exercising ecclesiastical functions,
we may well question this conjecture. In
the first place, we are not told that a bishop conferred the veil on St. Ita, in any of her Lives or Acts ; and secondly, it is not to be supposed, if she received the veil from a bishop so renowned as Declan, that the re- lation of such a circumstance would have been concealed by her biographer,
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itce, cap. v. , p. 66.
the bishop from whom she received the
veil. The time of her receiving it seems to
have been in the early part of the sixth
and when Declan over century, presided
the Nandesi country. " See "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , § i. , ^ 5> P- 83. Not to speak of doubts, re-
prevail
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
of heaven, to conduct her towards a place where she might best serve God,
in the promotion of his greater glory. An angel appeared, directing her to leave her native country, and proceed towards the western parts of Hy-Conaill territory, at the foot of a mountain called Luachra,5 where she should be shown a place for the erection of her nunnery, and where she was destined finally to repose. It was declared, also, that in conjunction with St. Senan,^ sheshouldberegardedaspatronofthatcountry. ?
Takingsomecompanions with her, she sought the place indicated f and having arrived in the present county of Limerick, within that portion of it now designated the barony of Glenquin, an angel appeared to her, and pointed out the exact spot on which herestablishmentshouldbeerected. ^ ThisplacewascalledCluain-Credhuel. '° Thither numbers of holy maidens flocked, to place themselves under this virgin's guidance. Her virtues these pious ladies endeavoured to imitate, and her instructions they laboured to practise. The fame of St. Ita, in a short time, became widely dffused ; while the place of her retirement was
opened with the greatest joy and alacrity to those of her sex who sought protection within its cloisters. "
The situation of St. Ita's old church, and near it her well, may be found at the burial-ground of Killeedy," a little to the north of Ballagh and Gort- naclohy mountains. It is a curious remnant of antiquity, although much in- jured and partly remodelled. As standing in 1840, it consisted of a nave and choir ; the former measuring forty-seven feet three inches in length by twenty-nine feet two inches in breadth, on the inside ; while the latter mea- sured thirty-seven feet by eighteen feet. '3 The choir had been modernized, and used as a Protestant church, until about the beginning of this century. '4 The choir arch was in tolerable preservation ; but it contained no part of the
ance, had been formed already in her own
country, particularly as St. Brigid had been there for some time. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xi. , § i. , n. 7, p. 84.
'° Now known as an ancient Killeedy,
church in a parish having the same name,
in the territory of Upper Connello, and tinguished by the additional name Gaura, county of Limerick. It is situated about
5 This was rather a name of the district in
which that mountain is situated. A part of
Hy-Conaill was so called, apparently from its abounding in rushes. The barony of Connello or Connillo, in the county of
is the ancient or at Limerick, Hy-Conaill,
least a part of it. The southern division of
this barony, or Upper Connello, was dis-
being called Hy-Conaill Gaura. In a western part of this tract, St. Ita formed her estab-
* See his Life at the 8th day of March.
7 "Hence it is said [ib. , cap. 6), that the entire nation of Hy-Conaill was to belong
^It was called Cluain Chreadhail, "the religious retirement. " See "Letters Con- taining Information relative to the Antiqui- ties of the County of Limerick, Collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Sur- vey in 1840," vol. i. , p. 75. The foregoing is Dr. O'Donovan's interpretation of the name.
9 We may be allowed to suppose, that the
want of a similar institution in those western
parts was, in the order of Providence, the cause of St. Ita having been directed to settle there. Nunneries and establishments
five miles to the south of Newcastle. This monastery is described in the Life of St. Ita, and also in that of St. Brendan, as having been situated at the foot of Sliabh- Luachra, in the west of Ui-Conaill-Gabhra territory. The writer of the Life of St. Brendan states, that it was Kill-Ite, in his own time. See O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. n. 184.
"
lishment. See Dr.
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , § i. , n. 6, pp. 83, 84.
for the education of to all females,
appear-
xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itae, cap. vi. , pp. 66,
67.
" See " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Limerick. " Sheet
44.
^3 See John O'Donovan's description, in
" Letters containing Information relative to
the Antiquities of the County of Limerick, Collected during the Progress of the Ord-
nance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , pp. 77 to
79.
^* Since then the services were disused.
Lanigan's
to these two saints. " Dr.
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , § iii. , n. 24, p. 89.
i. , (1), p. History of Limerick," part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 188, incorrectly identifies
" Ecclesias-
Lanigan's
" Ec-
Ferrar, in his
Cluan Credhail with a place called Clarina.
''
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum HibcrniEe,"
206 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 15.
ancientwork. Itwasconstructedwithchiselledlime-stones,inthepointed
and it measured ten feet nine inches in width. It was about thirteen feet to the vertex, from the level of the floor. This choir contained three modem windows ; one Avindow was in the middle of the south wall, and an other was opposite to it in the north wall, while a third was in the east gable. 'S Its walls were fairly preserved, but these contained no part of the ancient work. The nave of this church is in the primitive Irish style ; and, in all probability, it is thought to have formed a part of St. Ita's primitive church. The west gable is now destroyed down to its very fovmdation ; but, in the last century, people saw it standing, and some of these asserted, that it contained a door-way, consisting of concentric arches. '^ Of the north wall on this nave only a fragment remained, which connected with the middle gable : this measured eighteen feet six inches in length, by about nineteen feet six inches in height.
style,
Saint Ita's Church at Killeedy.
The Irish historian O'Halloran has mistaken the extent of Hy-Conaill Gabhra, supposing it to have been only a part of the present barony of Conello. ^7 It included, however, not alone the modern baronies bearing that name, but even the entire barony of Glenquin. '^ Archdall'9 was led astray by this statement, and Gough,^" likewise, for they have placed Cluain Chredail or Kilita at Castle Mac Eneiry, in the barony of Conillo.
'5 Not being much more than a century
old, these objects are not worth the anti-
quary's attention.
relative to the Antiquities of the County of
Limerick, Collected during the Progress of
the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , p.
75. Dr. O'Donovan's statement in this in-
stance differs from one in his edition of
'*
Liice the door-way in the west gable of
Clonfert church, county of Galway. The ac-
companying engraving by George A. Hanlon, was drawn on wood by William F. Wake-
man, from an elegant crayon sketch, procured through the kindness of Aubrey De Vere, Esq.
'7 See O'Halloran's " General History of
Ireland," vol. ii. , book xiii. , chap, v. , p. 390.
*'
The Topographical Poems
'8
See "Letters containing Information
Cough's
of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
Here he makes Ui-Conaill only commensurate with the baronies of Upper and Lower Connello. '5 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 419,
O'Huidhrin," n, 664, p. Ixxv.
and note (d).
" Camden's Britannia,"
»° See
vol. iii. , p. 519.
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
A chieftain, who ruled over Hy-Connaill, at the period of our saint's ar- rival, together with the inhabitants of this country, waited on Ita, and offered her some land, which immediately surrounded her establishment ; in order thus to afford herself and her community certain means of living, free from the solicitude of all worldly cares. The people naturally supposed, that want of sufficient support must necessarily distract the thoughts of those pious in- mates, during their first struggles, in the foundation of an unendowed religious house. To the people's and the chieftain's great regret and disappointment, our saint refused to accept a larger tract of land than four acres. ^' These she converted into a garden. In it were cultivated vegetables, necessary for the subsistence of her sisters in religion. The chieftain declared, however, that after the death of the abbess, her nunnery should be more richly endowed withlandsandsubstance. Thispredictioninduecourseoftimewasfulfilled. The Hy-Connaill inhabitants thenceforth placed themselves under the patron- age and intercession of this holy virgin. Her prayers and these of her nuns were continually offered to heaven in their behalf. Numberless blessings as a consequence were showered upon this favoured people. In honour of St. Ita, many gifts and oblations were made by inhabitants of that district to her nunnery, and to its community, as well during the life-time of their patroness,
^-
The fasts of Ita were so rigorous and excessive, that she frequently spent two, three, and even four days, without taking any kind of nourishment. To moderate this austerity, an angel of the Lord appeared to her, and com- manded her to relax in some measure those practices, which reduced her to great bodily weakness and exhaustion. He also declared, that from this time forward she should be supplied with heavenly food, which she must of necessity use when brought to her. Having promised a compliance with this supernal request, thenceforward she was miraculously supplied with food from
A
certain religious female, who often discoursed with our saint on pious subjects,
made enquiries regarding this miraculous benefit, and many other great spiri-
tual favours she received ; such, for instance, as gifts of prophecy, a power or healing the sick, and of expelling demons, besides many intercommunications sheheldwiththeangelsofGod. St. Itareplied,becausefromherinfancy, she was accustomed to meditate on Divine things, and to invoke frequently the Three Persons of the Most Adorable Trinity, therefore, she had been favoured with such supernatural powers. Being thus informed, the nun re- tired joyfully to her cell ; and, no doubt, she endeavoured afterwards to put in practice those virtues and incentives, which were received from St. Ita's life and conversation. The holy virgin was peculiarly gifted with a spirit of prophecy, which enabled her to foretel whether persons in sickness should recover or be called away from life. ^3
Many miracles of an extraordinary character are related, in our sainfs acts ; such as the restoring of sick and infirm persons to health and strength, and even raising the dead to life. ^+ She is said, also, to have had a know- ledge of transgressions, which were thought to have been secrets known only
as after her assumption to the beatitude of life eternal.
heaven to the day of her death, as the author of her life conjectures.
"The text has
hortorum. " According to a vulgar mode of
this be rendered four translation, might
acres, &c. But I am not able to define the quantity of ground contained in the ancient
^^
"Acta Sanctorum
Vita S. Itas, cap. vii. , p. 67.
"quatuor jugera
in usus
Colgan's xv. Januarii.
Hibernias,"
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xv. Januarii, cap. viii. -ix. , p. 67.
^'' These miracles are found in the Vita S.
or acre. " Dr. " Ecclesias- in "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Lanigan's Itse, Colgjn's
juger
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , § ii. , n, 8, p. 86.
nise," xv. Januarii, cap. xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xv. , xvii. , xxii. , xxiii. , xxvii. , &c.
^3 See
Colgan's
2o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 15.
to God, and to the perpetrators of those hidden crimes. ^5 Qn a certain oc- casion, a wise man lost the use of speech, and having visited St. Ita, with. some of his companions, she offered up her prayers to God in his behalf.
The first use made of his Then he returned to his
CHAPTER III.
MARRIAGE OF BEVAN WITH ST. ITA's SISTER, NESSA—THE HOLY ITA's CONTEMPT FOR RICHES—HER INTIMACY WITH ST. BRENDAN—HER PRAYERS AND CONTEM- PLATION—HER INTERNAL ILLUMINATION—HER SUPERNATURAL COMMUNION— VISIT OF THE CLONMACNOIS CLERICS TO ST. ITA.
An artificer in wood and stone-work, named Beoanus,' came from the pro-
vinceofConnaughttoCorcobhaiscin,inHy-Connaillterritory. Hehadbeen driven from his o\vti country, by certain powerful enemies. While sojourn- ing in this place, he built some addition to our sainfs monastery. ^
Becoming captivated with the beauty and virtues of Nessa,3 a sister to St.
Abbot of Clonfert, before she became an abbess. ^^ By the father's side, she
was descended from the Nan Desii family,^3 She was bom probably in some
part of the present Waterford county. ^^ Our saint's parents appear to have
been Christians, from the circumstance of her having been baptized when
an infant. The first name by which she had been called was Derthrea,
Deirdre,^5 or Dorothea, according to many of our old Martyrologists. ^^ On
account of an extraordinary thirst for Divine love she experienced, it is said
her name was afterwards changed to Ita. With its various readings, this word
"
'* This warrior-monarch is said to have told : St. Ita or Mida was daughter of Kenn-
fallen on the plain of Cobha. Colgan tells us, that in the copy of St. Ita's Life, which he
foelad, son of Conchorb, son of Comorbur, son to Conall, son of ^ngus, son to Art- corb, son of Fiach Suigde, son to Felim the Lawgiver. See Colgan's "Acta Sanc- torum Hibemise," xv. Januarii. Appendix ad Acta S. Itae, cap. i. , iii. , pp. 72, 73.
used for publication, Cotha was erroneously
put for Cobha, as found in the Codex Insu-
lensisandelsewhere. Hetellsus,thatthiswas
a celebrated plain of Ulster, commonly called
Mag Cobha. But the " Annals of the Four
Masters" state, that Conn of the Hundred
Battles was killed not at Cobha, but by Ti-
braite Tireach, son to Mai, son to Roch-
raidhe, King of Ulster, at Tuath-Amrois. of Kennfoelad. See Colgan's Acta Sanc-
Ibid,, vol. i. , pp. 104, 105. Mr. O'Donovan was not able to identify Tuath-Amrois, but
torum Hiberniae," xv. Januarii. Vita S.
Itae. Appendix, cap. i. , p. 72.
*° See "The of Martyrology Donegal,"
says,
" It must have been the name of a
he
district very near the Hill of Tara, as King Conn was murdered while making prepara- tions for the Feis Teamracti, according to
"
'5 See Dr. O'Donovan's " Annals of the
Four Masters," vol. L, pp. 102 to 105, and notes.
'* As may be seen in the first and third chapters of St. Declan's Life, according to the "'Menologic Genealogy," chap, xvi. , they were Rossius, Eugenius, and Artcorbius.
"
The time ol her birth is not recorded ; but it must have been some years prior to A. D. 484, if it be true that she had for some time under her care Brendan of Clonfert, when an infant. " Dr. Lanigan's "Eccle- siastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , sec. i. , p. 81. And at note 4, p. 83, on this passage. Dr. Lanigan remarks : "Bren- dan is spoken of several times, in St. Ita's Life, without any allusion to this part of his history, which is to be found only in what is called his own Life, a document much less respectable than the other. "
the older authorities.
Note (s), ibid.
Acta Sanctorum Hiberniae," XV. Januarii. Vita S. It£e, cap. i. , p. 66, and nn. I, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, p. 71. O'Flaherty seems to follow the latter statement, in refer- ence to the names of Fiach's sons. See
See Colgan's
-^ The Irish word Nandesi has a like fication with the Latin "Desiorum. " For ''Thus the "Menologic Genealogy," at that time, and even to-day, the coimtry
"Ogygia," Pars iii. , cap. Ixix. , p. 339.
chap, xvi. , draws her pedigree : Ita was and people belong to the Decies.
daughter to Kennfoelad, son of Corbmac, son to Conchebar, son of Conall, son of
" King-
son to Arthurb, son of Fiach Sui-
Miss M. F. Cusack's " of the History
^ngus,
gdhe, son of King Feidlimid.
Selbach, in
dom of Kerry," chap, iii. , p. 45.
accordswiththis
the ancient writer of St. Ita's Acts, pub- lished by Colgan. Yet the Calendar of Cashel has a slight difference. There we are
*s to the " According
"
chap. XV. ,
account,
asdoes
Martyrology
of
'* In his tract on the " Mothers of the
Saints of Ireland," lib. iv. , cap. 42.
'9 St. ^ngus the Culdee, writes that Necta was mother to St. Mida, the daughter
edited by Drs. Todd and Reeves, pp. ib, 17. *'
^ By Dr. Lanigan.
''
signi-
^^ " St. Ita was a member of the Desii or
Uandesi family, now located in Waterford.
Donegal.
^ Notably the " Calendar of Cashel," a
very ancient document.
"
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 203
Scarcely had this very distinguished virgin attained the dawning percep-
tions of childhood, when she seemed possessed with a plenitude of the Holy
Spirit ; and the grace of baptismal innocence appeared to sustain her, through all future actions and incidents of her life. From the moment she was
able to speak and walk, her innate modesty betrayed itself in every word, look, and gesture. Her discourse was full of prudence, and her manners
were truly characterized by a winning grace and gentleness. She always cul- tivated the spirit of continency, and no expression ever fell from her lips but suchasbecameavirgindedicatedtoGod. Himshebothlovedandfeared, with all the earnestness and constancy of a soul uncontaminated by the follies and imperfections of many children about her own age. Her resolutions were remarkable for their fidelity to the pious purposes she evoked, during years of infancy ; and, with a tender solicitude, she always feared the most remote stain of crime. She laboured to attain each day the acquisition or increase of some virtue. Her actions and manners were the admiration of all, while to her great suavity of disposition, she joined most sincere humility. Even on fasting days of precept, the abstinence of this pious child was re- markable ; so that, in fine, while living under the roof of her parents, she was regarded as a model of dove-like innocence and sanctity. She was deemed a vessel of election, in reference to her future career, as connected with the Irish Church.
During her infancy many miracles attested Ita's sanctity. It is related, that on a particular occasion, while this youthful maiden slept alone in her chamber, the whole apartment appeared to be in a blaze ; and when certain persons rushed thither to extinguish this fire, the child was found uninjured, as also the room in which she slumbered. It was miraculously revealed to them, that God's grace already burned in this infant's soul, of which those external flames were only an image. Being aroused from her sleep, the child
assumed an angehc form of exquisite and supernatural beauty, so that her nearest familiars could not recognise her identity ; and, after presenting this appearance for a short time, she resumed natural shape and features. As the author of her life remarks, these were remarkable for grace and comeliness. At another time, during her slumbers, the angel of God appeared, and pre- sented her with three jewels of great value. He assured her that the Blessed Spirits and Three Persons of the Most Adorable Trinity, represented by the jewels given, should often be present with her while sleeping and waking. ^? Such miracles as these gave promise of future sanctity and exalted favours, for which she was destined.
CHAPTER 11.
ST. ITA DECLINES AN OFFER FOR MARRIAGE—SHE GAINS THE CONSENT OF HER PARENTS TO LEAD A SINGLE LIFE—SHE ASSUMES THE VEIL OF VIRGINITY—OPPOSITION OF THE DEMONS—GUIDED BY AN ANGEL TO HER PLACE IN HY-CONAILL—SEVERA—L HOLY VIRGINS PLACE THEMSELVES UNDER HER DIRECTION AT CLUAIN-CREDHUIL DESCRIPTION OF ANTIQUITIES THERE—GREAT VENERATION OF THE CHIEF AND PEOPLE OF HY-CONAILL FOR ST. ITA—HER AUSTERITIES AND MIRACLES—HER SPIRI- TUAL GIFTS.
When the maiden grew up, a certain young noble sought her in marriage. With this object in view, he had already gained the consent of her father, without consulting her own incHnations. But the holy virgin had centered her affections on a Heavenly Spouse ;
=7 See Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum Hibar- niae," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Ita, cap. ii. , iii. ,
p. 66. Other accounts tend to prove her extraordinary virtues.
and, impelled by the Divine spirit, she
204 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. [January 15.
soughtaninterviewwithhermother. Thenexpatiatingontheexcellenceof Divine counsels, Ita procured her mother's consent to communicate to her
father, Kennfoelad, the substance of his daughter's most earnest desires, to consecrate herself to God, in a state of holy virginity. Incensed at this her
declaration, about to destroy ill-judged paternal ambition, Kennfoelad denied with an oath, that he would give consent to the accomplishment of her virtuous resolutions. Whereupon, filled with the spirit of prophecy, Ita
" Bear with
said to those who were
although he now forbids me to consecrate myself to Christ, yet hereafter he shall persuade and even command me to go whithersoever I desire, in order to serve God, he being impelled to act in this manner by our Lord Jesus Christ. "' A short time subsequent to this occurrence, St. Ita fasted con- tinuously three days and three nights. During this time, she was constantly assaulted by temptations of the Devil, whose wiles our pious virgin success- fully resisted. On the last of those nights, the enemy of her salvation ap- peared in a mournful and dejected guise. He vanished, at dawn of day,
present :
my
father for a because while,
"
othersfromme. " Duringthissamenight,anangeloftheLordappearedto
saying sorrowfully :
Alas ! Ita, not only will you withdraw yourself, but many
our saint's " in the name of do father, saying : Why, Christ,
you prevent your daughter from taking the veil of virginity ? For, Ita shall be a great and holy virgin before God and His saints, and she shall become an advocate for manyonthedayofjudgment. Notonlyshouldyouallowhertoassume the habit of virginity, but you ought permit her wheresoever she pleases to follow Christ. In another part of the country shall she serve our Lord, and become patron over the race that inhabits it. " Immediately, Kinnfoelad
sought his daughter, and told her what had occurred. Moreover, according to her prediction, he not only gave her permission to assume the veil, but he even counselled her on that very day to depart for whatever place she chose. '
Having obtained this permission, the virgin instantly proceeded on her way to a church, which was situated in the Nan-desii country. During this journey, she was encountered by demons, who endeavoured to obstruct her passage; buttheangelsofGodaffordedherprotection,andputthosead- versaries to flight. The evil spirits were heard proclaiming their discomfiture,
be able to
and " Woe to for henceforth we shall no saying : us,
longer
against this virgin. We have desired to avenge our injuries on her to-day, and the angels of God afforded her assistance : she shall destroy our influence in various places, and she shall snatch many souls from our dominion, both in this world and in the next ! " Having received consolation from angels,
she proceeded to the church, where she took a vow of virginity, and received her veil at the hands of venerable ecclesiastics,3 who were already aware of those miraculous favours she had received. * Then, she besought the guidance
Chap. ii. —' See
torum Hibemise," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itse, cap. iv. , p. 66.
" See Bishop Challoner's
Sancta," part i. , jS. 39. "
Lanigan,
"
that St. Declan of Ardmore was
Colgan's
" Acta Sane-
garding
the exact time and term for St.
" Britannia 3 It is not improbable," says Dr.
Declan's exercising ecclesiastical functions,
we may well question this conjecture. In
the first place, we are not told that a bishop conferred the veil on St. Ita, in any of her Lives or Acts ; and secondly, it is not to be supposed, if she received the veil from a bishop so renowned as Declan, that the re- lation of such a circumstance would have been concealed by her biographer,
* See " Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Colgan's
nise," xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itce, cap. v. , p. 66.
the bishop from whom she received the
veil. The time of her receiving it seems to
have been in the early part of the sixth
and when Declan over century, presided
the Nandesi country. " See "Ecclesiastical
History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , § i. , ^ 5> P- 83. Not to speak of doubts, re-
prevail
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 205
of heaven, to conduct her towards a place where she might best serve God,
in the promotion of his greater glory. An angel appeared, directing her to leave her native country, and proceed towards the western parts of Hy-Conaill territory, at the foot of a mountain called Luachra,5 where she should be shown a place for the erection of her nunnery, and where she was destined finally to repose. It was declared, also, that in conjunction with St. Senan,^ sheshouldberegardedaspatronofthatcountry. ?
Takingsomecompanions with her, she sought the place indicated f and having arrived in the present county of Limerick, within that portion of it now designated the barony of Glenquin, an angel appeared to her, and pointed out the exact spot on which herestablishmentshouldbeerected. ^ ThisplacewascalledCluain-Credhuel. '° Thither numbers of holy maidens flocked, to place themselves under this virgin's guidance. Her virtues these pious ladies endeavoured to imitate, and her instructions they laboured to practise. The fame of St. Ita, in a short time, became widely dffused ; while the place of her retirement was
opened with the greatest joy and alacrity to those of her sex who sought protection within its cloisters. "
The situation of St. Ita's old church, and near it her well, may be found at the burial-ground of Killeedy," a little to the north of Ballagh and Gort- naclohy mountains. It is a curious remnant of antiquity, although much in- jured and partly remodelled. As standing in 1840, it consisted of a nave and choir ; the former measuring forty-seven feet three inches in length by twenty-nine feet two inches in breadth, on the inside ; while the latter mea- sured thirty-seven feet by eighteen feet. '3 The choir had been modernized, and used as a Protestant church, until about the beginning of this century. '4 The choir arch was in tolerable preservation ; but it contained no part of the
ance, had been formed already in her own
country, particularly as St. Brigid had been there for some time. See Dr. Lanigan's "Ecclesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. ,
chap, xi. , § i. , n. 7, p. 84.
'° Now known as an ancient Killeedy,
church in a parish having the same name,
in the territory of Upper Connello, and tinguished by the additional name Gaura, county of Limerick. It is situated about
5 This was rather a name of the district in
which that mountain is situated. A part of
Hy-Conaill was so called, apparently from its abounding in rushes. The barony of Connello or Connillo, in the county of
is the ancient or at Limerick, Hy-Conaill,
least a part of it. The southern division of
this barony, or Upper Connello, was dis-
being called Hy-Conaill Gaura. In a western part of this tract, St. Ita formed her estab-
* See his Life at the 8th day of March.
7 "Hence it is said [ib. , cap. 6), that the entire nation of Hy-Conaill was to belong
^It was called Cluain Chreadhail, "the religious retirement. " See "Letters Con- taining Information relative to the Antiqui- ties of the County of Limerick, Collected during the Progress of the Ordnance Sur- vey in 1840," vol. i. , p. 75. The foregoing is Dr. O'Donovan's interpretation of the name.
9 We may be allowed to suppose, that the
want of a similar institution in those western
parts was, in the order of Providence, the cause of St. Ita having been directed to settle there. Nunneries and establishments
five miles to the south of Newcastle. This monastery is described in the Life of St. Ita, and also in that of St. Brendan, as having been situated at the foot of Sliabh- Luachra, in the west of Ui-Conaill-Gabhra territory. The writer of the Life of St. Brendan states, that it was Kill-Ite, in his own time. See O'Donovan's "Annals of the Four Masters," vol. n. 184.
"
lishment. See Dr.
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , § i. , n. 6, pp. 83, 84.
for the education of to all females,
appear-
xv. Januarii. Vita S. Itae, cap. vi. , pp. 66,
67.
" See " Ordnance Survey Townland
Maps for the County of Limerick. " Sheet
44.
^3 See John O'Donovan's description, in
" Letters containing Information relative to
the Antiquities of the County of Limerick, Collected during the Progress of the Ord-
nance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , pp. 77 to
79.
^* Since then the services were disused.
Lanigan's
to these two saints. " Dr.
clesiastical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , § iii. , n. 24, p. 89.
i. , (1), p. History of Limerick," part iii. , chap, iii. , p. 188, incorrectly identifies
" Ecclesias-
Lanigan's
" Ec-
Ferrar, in his
Cluan Credhail with a place called Clarina.
''
Colgan's "Acta Sanctorum HibcrniEe,"
206 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 15.
ancientwork. Itwasconstructedwithchiselledlime-stones,inthepointed
and it measured ten feet nine inches in width. It was about thirteen feet to the vertex, from the level of the floor. This choir contained three modem windows ; one Avindow was in the middle of the south wall, and an other was opposite to it in the north wall, while a third was in the east gable. 'S Its walls were fairly preserved, but these contained no part of the ancient work. The nave of this church is in the primitive Irish style ; and, in all probability, it is thought to have formed a part of St. Ita's primitive church. The west gable is now destroyed down to its very fovmdation ; but, in the last century, people saw it standing, and some of these asserted, that it contained a door-way, consisting of concentric arches. '^ Of the north wall on this nave only a fragment remained, which connected with the middle gable : this measured eighteen feet six inches in length, by about nineteen feet six inches in height.
style,
Saint Ita's Church at Killeedy.
The Irish historian O'Halloran has mistaken the extent of Hy-Conaill Gabhra, supposing it to have been only a part of the present barony of Conello. ^7 It included, however, not alone the modern baronies bearing that name, but even the entire barony of Glenquin. '^ Archdall'9 was led astray by this statement, and Gough,^" likewise, for they have placed Cluain Chredail or Kilita at Castle Mac Eneiry, in the barony of Conillo.
'5 Not being much more than a century
old, these objects are not worth the anti-
quary's attention.
relative to the Antiquities of the County of
Limerick, Collected during the Progress of
the Ordnance Survey in 1840," vol. i. , p.
75. Dr. O'Donovan's statement in this in-
stance differs from one in his edition of
'*
Liice the door-way in the west gable of
Clonfert church, county of Galway. The ac-
companying engraving by George A. Hanlon, was drawn on wood by William F. Wake-
man, from an elegant crayon sketch, procured through the kindness of Aubrey De Vere, Esq.
'7 See O'Halloran's " General History of
Ireland," vol. ii. , book xiii. , chap, v. , p. 390.
*'
The Topographical Poems
'8
See "Letters containing Information
Cough's
of John O'Dubhagain and Giolla na Naomh
Here he makes Ui-Conaill only commensurate with the baronies of Upper and Lower Connello. '5 See " Monasticon Hibernicum," p. 419,
O'Huidhrin," n, 664, p. Ixxv.
and note (d).
" Camden's Britannia,"
»° See
vol. iii. , p. 519.
January 15. ] LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS. 207
A chieftain, who ruled over Hy-Connaill, at the period of our saint's ar- rival, together with the inhabitants of this country, waited on Ita, and offered her some land, which immediately surrounded her establishment ; in order thus to afford herself and her community certain means of living, free from the solicitude of all worldly cares. The people naturally supposed, that want of sufficient support must necessarily distract the thoughts of those pious in- mates, during their first struggles, in the foundation of an unendowed religious house. To the people's and the chieftain's great regret and disappointment, our saint refused to accept a larger tract of land than four acres. ^' These she converted into a garden. In it were cultivated vegetables, necessary for the subsistence of her sisters in religion. The chieftain declared, however, that after the death of the abbess, her nunnery should be more richly endowed withlandsandsubstance. Thispredictioninduecourseoftimewasfulfilled. The Hy-Connaill inhabitants thenceforth placed themselves under the patron- age and intercession of this holy virgin. Her prayers and these of her nuns were continually offered to heaven in their behalf. Numberless blessings as a consequence were showered upon this favoured people. In honour of St. Ita, many gifts and oblations were made by inhabitants of that district to her nunnery, and to its community, as well during the life-time of their patroness,
^-
The fasts of Ita were so rigorous and excessive, that she frequently spent two, three, and even four days, without taking any kind of nourishment. To moderate this austerity, an angel of the Lord appeared to her, and com- manded her to relax in some measure those practices, which reduced her to great bodily weakness and exhaustion. He also declared, that from this time forward she should be supplied with heavenly food, which she must of necessity use when brought to her. Having promised a compliance with this supernal request, thenceforward she was miraculously supplied with food from
A
certain religious female, who often discoursed with our saint on pious subjects,
made enquiries regarding this miraculous benefit, and many other great spiri-
tual favours she received ; such, for instance, as gifts of prophecy, a power or healing the sick, and of expelling demons, besides many intercommunications sheheldwiththeangelsofGod. St. Itareplied,becausefromherinfancy, she was accustomed to meditate on Divine things, and to invoke frequently the Three Persons of the Most Adorable Trinity, therefore, she had been favoured with such supernatural powers. Being thus informed, the nun re- tired joyfully to her cell ; and, no doubt, she endeavoured afterwards to put in practice those virtues and incentives, which were received from St. Ita's life and conversation. The holy virgin was peculiarly gifted with a spirit of prophecy, which enabled her to foretel whether persons in sickness should recover or be called away from life. ^3
Many miracles of an extraordinary character are related, in our sainfs acts ; such as the restoring of sick and infirm persons to health and strength, and even raising the dead to life. ^+ She is said, also, to have had a know- ledge of transgressions, which were thought to have been secrets known only
as after her assumption to the beatitude of life eternal.
heaven to the day of her death, as the author of her life conjectures.
"The text has
hortorum. " According to a vulgar mode of
this be rendered four translation, might
acres, &c. But I am not able to define the quantity of ground contained in the ancient
^^
"Acta Sanctorum
Vita S. Itas, cap. vii. , p. 67.
"quatuor jugera
in usus
Colgan's xv. Januarii.
Hibernias,"
" Acta Sanctorum Hiber- nise," xv. Januarii, cap. viii. -ix. , p. 67.
^'' These miracles are found in the Vita S.
or acre. " Dr. " Ecclesias- in "Acta Sanctorum Hiber- Lanigan's Itse, Colgjn's
juger
tical History of Ireland," vol. ii. , chap, xi. , § ii. , n, 8, p. 86.
nise," xv. Januarii, cap. xii. , xiii. , xiv. , xv. , xvii. , xxii. , xxiii. , xxvii. , &c.
^3 See
Colgan's
2o8 LIVES OF THE IRISH SAINTS.
[January 15.
to God, and to the perpetrators of those hidden crimes. ^5 Qn a certain oc- casion, a wise man lost the use of speech, and having visited St. Ita, with. some of his companions, she offered up her prayers to God in his behalf.
The first use made of his Then he returned to his
CHAPTER III.
MARRIAGE OF BEVAN WITH ST. ITA's SISTER, NESSA—THE HOLY ITA's CONTEMPT FOR RICHES—HER INTIMACY WITH ST. BRENDAN—HER PRAYERS AND CONTEM- PLATION—HER INTERNAL ILLUMINATION—HER SUPERNATURAL COMMUNION— VISIT OF THE CLONMACNOIS CLERICS TO ST. ITA.
An artificer in wood and stone-work, named Beoanus,' came from the pro-
vinceofConnaughttoCorcobhaiscin,inHy-Connaillterritory. Hehadbeen driven from his o\vti country, by certain powerful enemies. While sojourn- ing in this place, he built some addition to our sainfs monastery. ^
Becoming captivated with the beauty and virtues of Nessa,3 a sister to St.
