¹ Here begins the Life of the Virgin Saint Ita

² We wish briefly to recount some remembrance of the life and miracles of the most blessed virgin Ita. For many of her miracles are unknown to us, because she always concealed them. And those things that happened to her alone she told to no one. Other things that we do know we omit for the sake of brevity.

³ The most holy virgin Ita was born of the noblest lineage of Ireland, that is, from the seed of Feidlimid Reachtmar, by whom all Ireland for many years was ruled with great power from the royal stronghold of Tara. He had three sons, namely Fiacha, Conn, and Eochaid. Fiacha indeed, though he had three sons, died without kingship. Conn, however, ruled all Ireland after his father with great power and in great prosperity. Yet he himself, alas for sorrow, was killed in battle, which was fought on the plain of Cobha by the king of the Ulstermen, who was called Tipraide Tireach.

⁴ The three sons of his brother Fiacha, together with many bands and a great army, came from Tara into the land of the Munstermen; and there they nobly and bravely seized a very large territory with their swords. That people is today called the Déisi. From this most noble people the outstanding virgin, namely Ita, was born. From the font of baptism she was filled with the Holy Spirit. From the beginning all marveled at the self-control and character of her childhood, and at her abstinence on the days on which the handmaid of God ought to fast. And many signs were seen to be done through her when she was still a very little child.

⁵ When she was able to speak and to walk, she appeared prudent in speech and deed, sweet in expression, steadfast in mind, always uttering most chaste words from her mouth, gentle toward all, very generous, fearing and loving God, always forbidding evil and urging good. Thus she lived in the house of her parents in the age of maidenhood.

⁶ On a certain day the holy girl Ita slept alone in a chamber, and that whole chamber appeared to people to be on fire. But when those people approached to help, it appeared unburnt; and as all greatly marveled at this, it was said to them from above that the grace of God was burning around the handmaid of Christ who was sleeping there. And when Saint Ita rose from sleep, her whole appearance was seen to be like the appearance of an angel. For at that time she had such beauty as she had neither before nor afterward. Indeed, her form then appeared such that even her friends could scarcely look upon her. And then all recognized that the grace of God was burning around her. After a short interval the virgin of God returned to her usual appearance, which was itself sufficiently beautiful.

⁷ On another day, when Saint Ita had fallen asleep, she saw an angel of the Lord come to her and give her three precious stones. And when the handmaid of Christ rose from sleep, she did not know what that vision signified. Concerning this matter the holy servant of God pondered the question in her heart. Then the angel of the Lord descended to her, saying: “Why do you search into the vision? Those three precious stones which you saw given to you signify the holy threefold visitation that will come to you and visit you: namely, the visitation of the Father, of Christ his Son, and of the Holy Spirit. And always, both in sleep and in waking, angels of God and holy visions will come to you. For you are the temple of the Godhead, in body and in soul.” And when he had said these things, he departed from her.

⁸ On another day the most blessed virgin Ita approached her mother and, taught by the Holy Spirit, preached divine commandments to her. And she asked her to entreat her father on her behalf, that with her father’s permission Saint Ita might be consecrated to Christ. But he was in no way willing to give this permission, because a powerful and noble young man had sought her from him. This greatly displeased her mother. And when others also were approached to beg him, he denied it with an oath. Then Saint Ita, filled with the spirit of prophecy, said to them all: “Leave my father for a time. My father now forbids me to be consecrated in Christ; but again he will urge it and command it. For he will be compelled by my Lord Jesus Christ to let me go wherever I shall wish to go, to serve God.” And so it came to pass. How this later happened will be told afterward.

⁹ After this, not much time having passed, the blessed virgin Ita fasted for three days and three nights. During those days and nights, both in sleep and in waking, the devil clearly fought against the virgin of God with many assaults. But the most blessed virgin resisted him most wisely in all things, both sleeping and waking. On the last night the devil appeared sorrowful and mourning, and when day dawned he withdrew from the handmaid of God, saying in a mournful voice: “Alas, not only will you yourself, Ita, be freed from me, but many others as well.”

¹⁰ In that same night the angel of the Lord came to the father of Saint Ita, saying to him: “Why do you forbid your daughter to receive, in the name of Christ, the veil of virginity? For she will be a great and approved virgin before God and his saints, and the mother of many on the day of judgment. You will not only give her permission to receive the sign of virginity, but you will let her go wherever she wishes, to serve Christ. In another people she will serve God, and she herself will be the mother of that people.” The girl’s father, without any delay, came to her and told her all these things. And, just as the worthy virgin had foretold above concerning him, he not only gave the desired permission, but urged her that on that very day she should receive the veil of virginity and go wherever she wished. And on that same day, when the three-day fast had been completed, the virgin of the Lord went to the church of God which was in that same district, to receive the virginal veil.

¹¹ And when the blessed Ita was on her journey, look, many demons came against her on the road and began to contend fiercely against the virgin of God. Then the angels of God came down from above and fought bravely against the demons on behalf of the bride of Christ. And when the demons were overcome by the angels of God, they fled through trackless places, crying out and saying: “Woe to us, for from this day we shall not be able to contend against this virgin. We wished today to avenge our injuries upon her, but the angels of God have delivered her from us. For she will destroy our dwelling places in many locations, and she will snatch many away from us in this world and from the realms below.”

¹² Meanwhile the virgin of the Lord, comforted by the angels of God, reached the church; and there, by angelic command, she was immediately consecrated by ecclesiastical men and received the veil of virginity.

¹³ After this the blessed virgin Ita prayed to the Lord that he might show her the place in which she was to serve him. And look, the angel of the Lord came to her, saying: “Leave this land of yours and go to that region which is called Uí Chonaill, and you shall dwell in the western part of that same region, near the foothills of Mount Luachra. And there the angel of the Lord will come to you and will show you the place where your city shall be, in which you will pass over to Christ. For you shall be the mother of the people of Uí Chonaill; a people which has been given by God to you and to Saint Senán.”

¹⁴ When these words of the angel had been heard, Saint Ita set out with her companions for that region and stayed near the foothills of Mount Luachra, just as the angel had told her. And immediately the angel of the Lord came to her and assigned to her the place in which she was to serve God. At once the fame of the most holy virgin spread throughout that whole region. And many virgins from here and there came to Saint Ita to serve God under her care, and she received them all devoutly and with gladness of heart.

¹⁵ When the great holiness of the most blessed virgin Ita was heard of, the people of Uí Chonaill came to her with their leader, and they wished to give forever to her and to God all the land that lay around the cell of Saint Ita. But the handmaid of the Lord, unwilling to be entangled in worldly concerns, accepted nothing of the land from them except only four acres for the use of gardens. This greatly displeased the leader and his companions, and they said: “What you do not wish to receive now will be given to you when you pass to the kingdom of God.” And so it came to pass.

¹⁶ Then the whole people of Uí Chonaill accepted Saint Ita as their mother here and in the future, just as the angel had foretold. And the blessed Ita blessed that same people and her land with many blessings, which are always fulfilled. And they returned to their own places with great joy, and they continually brought great gifts, alms, and offerings to that same cell for the use of the holy virgins who were there, in honor of the blessed Ita.

¹⁷ The most blessed virgin Ita devoted all her effort to living by two-day fasts, three-day fasts, and frequently even four-day fasts. One day, however, when she was worn out by hunger, an angel of the Lord came to her and said: “Without measure you afflict your body with fasts; do not do so.” But since the bride of Christ was unwilling to lessen her burden, the angel said to her: “God has granted you such great grace that from this day until your death you shall be refreshed by heavenly food. And you will not be able to refrain from eating whenever the angel of the Lord comes to you, bringing you your meal.”

¹⁸ Then the blessed Ita bowed herself to the ground and gave thanks to God. And from that meal Saint Ita would give portions to others whom she knew to be worthy to receive them. And so, without any doubt, she lived on heavenly sustenance until her death, an angel ministering to her.

¹⁹ On a certain day a holy and religious virgin came to Saint Ita and spoke with her about divine precepts. And while they were speaking with one another, that virgin said to Saint Ita: “Make known to us, in the name of God, why you are loved more by God than other virgins whom we know to be in the world. For food from heaven is given to you by God; you heal every sickness by your prayer; you prophesy concerning things past and future; you drive away demons everywhere; the angels of God speak with you daily; you remain always, without hindrance, in meditation and prayer to the Holy Trinity.”

²⁰ Then Saint Ita said to her: “You yourself have answered your question by saying, ‘You remain without hindrance in prayer and meditation of the Holy Trinity.’ For if anyone is so disposed, God will always be with him. And if I have been so from my childhood, it is for this reason that all these things which you have mentioned have happened to me.”

²¹ When that holy virgin heard this word from the blessed Ita concerning prayer and meditation on God, she departed joyfully to her cell.

²² God had now bestowed upon Saint Ita such great grace of prophecy that she knew whether the sick would live in their illness or whether they would die. Saint Comhghan, abbot of Comhgan, knowing that the time of his reward was at hand, asked Saint Ita to come to him. And Saint Comhghan said to her: “Look, I shall soon die of this illness, and I ask you in the name of Christ that you place your hands upon my lips and close my mouth at the hour of my falling asleep. For I know from an angel of God that upon whomever, at death, you place your hands, the angels of the Lord will immediately lead his soul into the kingdom of God.”

²³ Saint Ita said to him: “O holy father, what are you saying? A sinful man ought to speak such a word. Great is your reward with God, and you will be glorious among the saints of God. What do you need from me?” Saint Comhghan said: “Truly I say this: because of what I have asked, no demon will dare to approach our journey or accuse us in any way.”

²⁴ Meanwhile the holy man Comhghan passed from this world among the choirs of holy angels, and Saint Ita carried out what he had requested.

²⁵ Then the glorious virgin of God, Ita, returned to her cell. And as the handmaid of God was drawing near to her monastery, she heard from nearby a great and immense wailing. For there were three noblemen who had died that day, and their friends were wailing and lamenting for them. And when they learned that Saint Ita was passing by, they came down and with tearful voices begged the handmaid of God to come and at least pray for their souls.

²⁶ Saint Ita said to them: “Whatever more than prayer you desire for their souls shall be done for you in the name of Christ.” They did not yet understand this word. The blessed Ita spoke this because, filled with the spirit of prophecy, she knew that she would raise them from death in the name of God. And the holy servant of God went down with them to where the dead were, and praying, she marked the bodies lying there with the sign of the holy cross; and at her command they rose alive. And the bride of Christ presented them alive before everyone.

²⁷ In that same place there was a certain man, a paralytic, held fast by a very severe infirmity. His friends, seeing the dead raised, seized him and brought him to Saint Ita so that she might heal him. For they did not doubt that she could heal the sick who had raised the dead. And the handmaid of God, seeing the great misery of that man, looked up to heaven and said to him: “May God have mercy on you.” And as she said this, she marked him with the sign of the holy cross. It is truly wondrous to tell: while the handmaid of Christ was still marking the paralytic, he immediately rose up sound and whole before everyone, as if he had never been seized by paralysis.

²⁸ Then the cry of all the people was raised to heaven, praising God and giving thanks to him, and magnifying his handmaid with due honor. After this, the handmaid of God arrived at her cell with her companions.

²⁹ A certain nun who had been under the care of Saint Ita secretly committed fornication. On the next day the blessed Ita summoned her to herself and said to her: “Why, sister, did you not take care to preserve your virginity?” But she denied what she had done. Then Saint Ita said to her: “Did you not yesterday commit fornication in that place, and did this not happen to you?” Immediately, knowing that the blessed Ita was a prophetess concerning past and future things, she confessed the truth of the matter. And she was healed, performing penance according to the command of Saint Ita.

³⁰ Another virgin also, who was far away from Saint Ita, that is, in the province of Connacht, was secretly committing adultery with a certain man. Saint Ita, however, filled with the spirit of prophecy and knowing this, ordered Saint Brendan to bring her to her. And Saint Brendan caused her to come to Saint Ita. The bride of Christ then told her, among other things, how she had conceived and borne a daughter—for she had borne a daughter to that man. But she, hearing her wrongdoing spoken from the mouth of the handmaid of God, performed worthy penance. And her soul was restored to eternal salvation, afterward living in holiness.

³¹ From that time on, the whole household of Saint Ita, and others who had come to know the gift of her prophecy, feared her, whether she was absent or present.

³² A certain good craftsman, an honorable man from the province of Connacht, came into exile to the land of the Munstermen. When the blessed Ita heard of the renown of his skill, she asked him to construct buildings for her. The craftsman, however, asked Saint Ita for a wife and land on which to dwell. And the most blessed Ita gave him her sister and land in which he might live. And with all devotion he carried out building works in the monastery of Saint Ita.

³³ It happened, however, that on a certain day two leaders waged war against one another. And that craftsman went out to battle with one of them, for he was proven in warfare. But the leader with whom the craftsman was turned to flight, and all his men were killed; among them the craftsman himself was killed and beheaded, and his head was carried far away from him. When this was reported to Saint Ita, it greatly displeased her. For she had promised the craftsman in the name of Christ that he would have a son after him. And at that time he had no offspring, because his wife was still barren.

³⁴ Saint Ita came with her companions to where the headless body of the craftsman lay. The craftsman was called Beoanus. And since his head was not found, Saint Ita prayed to God that he might show her the head. And by divine power the head flew through the air and stood before the handmaid of God beside its body. And God, having mercy on his handmaid, joined the head to its body so firmly as if it had never been cut off, except that only the mark of the wound remained. And as the holy servant of God prayed, and after the space of an hour had passed, he rose alive, greeting the handmaid of God and giving thanks to God. And all who were there likewise gave thanks to God together with the holy servant of God.

³⁵ Then the holy handmaid of God rose and went to her monastery, and the one who had been raised went with her company. Afterward that craftsman Beoanus lay with his formerly barren wife, and she conceived and bore a son, just as Saint Ita had promised. This son Saint Ita fostered; he was called Mochoemhog, and he became a most holy abbot, in whose honor the city of Liath was built.

³⁶ A certain wise man, through some misfortune, lost his power of speech and became mute. He came to Saint Ita with his disciples to seek healing. And the holy handmaid of God prayed to the Lord for him; and immediately, while she was still praying, speech was restored to him, and he spoke clearly. And praying to God together, he returned to his own home with joy.

³⁷ On a certain holy day the blessed Ita asked God that on that day she might receive the body and blood of Christ from the hand of a worthy priest. But the grace of God secretly led his handmaid across long stretches of land to the city of Clonmacnoise; and she received from the hand of a worthy priest the body and blood of the Lord, just as she wished. Yet no one saw her coming there, or receiving them, or returning. And immediately on that same day she was found in her own place.

³⁸ The priests, not knowing what had happened to the body and blood of the Lord, fasted that day, together with all the clergy and the people, that God might reveal to them the mystery of this event. Afterward the angel of the Lord came to a certain holy old man among them and told him everything that had taken place. Then the priest who had offered the host which Saint Ita had received came with other clerics by a long journey to her, so that the handmaid of God might bless them. And while they were on the road, one of them by some mischance became blind. Comforting one another, they said: “Blessed Ita, bride of Christ, when we reach her, by the grace of God she will restore the sight of our brother’s eyes.”

³⁹ And the blessed virgin prophetically foretold their coming to her companions. When they arrived there, the handmaid of God received them joyfully, and at once, by the grace of God, she restored sight to that blind brother of theirs. And Saint Ita commanded that priest from whom she had secretly received the Lord’s communion in the city of Clonmacnoise to celebrate Mass before her. And the blessed virgin ordered her daughters to give that holy man the vestments in which he had then offered the sacrifice. But he refused, saying: “We cannot take anything with us now, because our abbot, Aengus, commanded us not to receive anything from you except only your prayer.”

⁴⁰ Saint Ita the prophetess said: “It will not displease your holy abbot Aengus to receive this from me, for I shall give you a sign for him. One day he came to the monastery of the holy virgin Chinrecha of Dercán, and that most blessed virgin asked him to wash her feet, and he agreed. Then the most holy virgin Chinrecha washed the holy feet of Aengus and dried them with a linen cloth. I myself, God being my witness, held the end of the cloth and wiped his feet with it. When your abbot hears this, he will rejoice and gladly accept my gift.”

⁴¹ Afterward they accepted the gift, and the disciples marveled at these things; and having received the blessing of the saint, they returned to their journey. And so all things came to pass just as Saint Ita had foretold.

⁴² A certain layman, very rich and very eloquent, came to the blessed Ita, bringing a great gift of silver as alms, and he placed it at the feet of the most holy virgin. She stretched out her hand touched the silver, and despising it, cast it away from her feet, unwilling to look upon it either in mind or with her eyes. After the handmaid of God had touched the same silver with her hand, she said to the daughter who was ministering to her: “Give me water, that I may wash the hand which touched corruptible silver.” Thus she had already come to abhor gold and silver and all the gains of the world, as though she had touched something unclean.

⁴³ Then the man who had given the gift asked the blessed Ita, saying: “To whom should a gift be given—to the rich and powerful, or to the poor and pilgrims?” The handmaid of God replied: “It should be given to both: to the rich and powerful for the sake of worldly honor; but to the poor and pilgrims for a reward in heaven.” He said: “If I am not able to give to both, what should I do?” The handmaid of God answered: “It lies in a man’s power to give his substance either for the honor of the world, or to God who gives to him, for eternal life.”

⁴⁴ At these words he was edified, and having received her blessing, he departed.

⁴⁵ At one time Saint Brendan questioned the blessed Ita about three works that greatly please God, and about three that greatly displease him. The handmaid of God, Ita, replied: “True belief in God with a pure heart; a simple life joined with religion; generosity joined with charity—these three greatly please God. But a mouth that detests people; an affection that clings to evil in the heart; and trust in riches—these three greatly displease God.” When Saint Brendan and all who were there heard this judgment, they glorified God in his handmaid.

⁴⁶ A certain holy virgin, wishing to find out how the most holy Ita lived in her most secret place, in which she was accustomed to give herself to God alone, went out at a certain hour in order to see her. As she entered there, she saw three most brilliant suns, shining like this visible sun of the world, lighting up the whole place and the space around it. And because of fear she could not enter, but immediately turned back. The mystery of this prodigy is hidden from us, unless they were the gifts of the Holy Trinity, who made all things from nothing, to whom the most blessed Ita constantly served in body and soul.

⁴⁷ There was a certain virgin in the plain of the Liffey named Richena, who had a holy foster-son whose name was Columbanus. This Columbanus, journeying to the island of Iona to Saint Columba, there received the episcopal rank, and afterward returned again to his own country. When he came to his foster-mother, Saint Richena, the blessed virgin said to him: “My son, my dear daughter is afflicted with a great illness; therefore come with me to Saint Ita, that she may bless you and bring help to your companion.” The bishop gladly accepted this.

⁴⁸ Then, having harnessed horses to a cart, the bishop and his foster-mother set out on the road with their companions. But the devil began to lay many snares for them along the way. The blessed Ita, a prophetess, said to her household: “Prepare a bath and a feast, for today holy guests will come to us from the far land of the Laigin.” On that very day they arrived there, and immediately Ita said: “Let the bishop come to me and place his hand, blessing my head.” They marveled that the holy servant of God knew that he was a bishop, although no one had told her.

⁴⁹ After they had blessed one another, as pleased the bishop, the blessed Ita said—still not yet telling him about the sick virgin—“Choose with regard to your daughter whom you have brought out: whether she should be healthy in body and die in sin, or remain here in suffering and live in eternal life; as the Apostle says, ‘For power is made perfect in weakness’ [2 Corinthians 12:9].” They chose, together with their daughter, that she should remain here in suffering and live in eternal rest; and so it came to pass.

⁵⁰ Turning to Saint Richena, the blessed Ita said to her: “Handmaid of God, your journey would not have been prosperous unless the bishop had come with you, because many demons lie in wait for our sex.” And after staying for several days with Saint Ita in true charity, they began to return.

⁵¹ Then Saint Richena said to the blessed Ita: “I have a very dear virgin companion in the southern part of Ireland. What counsel do you now give me, my lady—should I go to her?” The blessed Ita said to her: “No; rather, you shall go straight with your companions to your own cell, and that virgin will meet you on the border of Leinster and Munster, wishing to come to you.” And so it happened. As they went on their way with the blessing just mentioned, that virgin met them there. And they blessed Ita the prophetess, rejoicing together.

⁵² A certain man killed his brother; and, touched by repentance, he came to Saint Ita and did penance according to her command. And the most blessed Ita said to him, perceiving his mind to be devout: “If you adhere to my words, you will not die by a sudden death, but you will pass to eternal life.”

⁵³ Later it happened that he had to go to war with his lord, since he was a soldier; and when the battle was hard fought against his own people, he was killed among the others. When she heard this, blessed Ita said: “I promised that man that he would complete the course of his life happily, because he has kept what I commanded him.” And she said to her attendants: “Go, and in God’s name call him for me in the place of slaughter, calling him by his own name; and I believe that he will rise up to you.”

⁵⁴ They did so, and he rose up from the carnage as if he had never been slain. He ran to those who were seeking him, and came with them to blessed Ita; and afterward it happened to him just as the handmaid of the Lord had promised.

⁵⁵ At another time a wealthy layman came to blessed Ita and said: “I beg you, holy woman of God, that my mares may give birth this year to male foals with white heads and red coloring.” Saint Ita replied: “What you ask is not of my littleness; it belongs to God to do with his elements whatever he wills.”

⁵⁶ Then he begged her more earnestly, saying: “Ask the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit—one God in three—who has colored heaven and earth, sea and humanity, garments and cattle, that he himself may make the colors of the foals as I desire.” The handmaid of God said to him: “Because you believe thus in God, so shall your foals be this year, as you wish.” Rejoicing at this prophecy, he departed; and everything happened to him just as the servant of God had said.

⁵⁷ At another time, in the cell of nuns called Doire Cusgryd, there arose a very troubling dispute concerning a theft that had been committed there. Each of them was questioned about it. When all denied it, the abbess of that place said to her daughters: “Let us go to blessed Ita; I believe that through her this obscure matter will be resolved.” For it grieved her that the whole suspicion had fallen upon one innocent virgin of Christ.

⁵⁸ They then went to blessed Ita; and Ita prophetically said to her household: “Prepare food and a bath, for the handmaids of Christ are coming to us today.” Afterward those who came entered one by one to the most holy Ita, kissing her. But the woman upon whom suspicion had fallen did not dare to approach the servant of God more closely, although she was innocent and of a pure conscience.

⁵⁹ Then blessed Ita said to her: “Come, most innocent virgin of Christ, and give me a kiss; it is certain that you did not take theft that is sought from you.” Immediately the virgins begged Saint Ita in the name of Christ to show them who had stolen it. Blessed Ita replied: “She who has been placed among you in penance for another fault—that woman stole it, and hid it between the wooden beam of the veil and her pasture.” And she added: “You will find it unharmed; but she who stole it will not remain in your community. For, as the prophet says, ‘She has the face of a harlot.’”

⁶⁰ And so everything happened as she said. The object was found; and that wretched woman, abandoning her habit, remained among wild people, corrupted in fornication.

⁶¹ At another time a certain man, named Feargus, whose son was still alive, was brought to Saint Ita in the greatest pain of his eyes and body. For he scarcely knew himself, whether he was alive or dead. But this sick man, almost dead, with his sight extinguished and given up by everyone, was restored to himself—sound in body and with very keen eyes. And from that time until his death he lived healthy in his limbs through the prayer and blessing of the most blessed Ita.

⁶² At a certain time the uncle of Saint Ita died; he had eight sons. They lived in the region of Na n-Desi. And the handmaid of God sent to them from the land of Hua Conaill, summoning them. When they came, the “bride of Christ” spoke to them, saying: “My uncle, your father, has died; alas for us, for he is tormented in the pains of hell for his deeds. It has been divinely shown to me how he is tormented; but let us do something for the salvation of his soul, so that he may be rescued. Therefore do what I tell you: let each of you, throughout this whole year, give daily loaves with food of meat or butter for his soul, and the same number of lamps; and at the end of the year return to me.”

⁶³ They were indeed wealthy. They did as the servant of Christ commanded them, and after a year they returned to blessed Ita. The servant of God said to them: “Your father has been drawn out from the waves of hell halfway through by your gifts and my prayers. Now go, and give equal gifts this year also, and again come to me.” And so they did.

⁶⁴ When they came again, the virgin of Christ spoke to them thus: “Your father has been rescued from all of hell; but now he is naked, without clothing, because he gave no garment to anyone in the name of Christ. Therefore give alms of clothing, so that he may be clothed.” When they had given alms of clothing throughout that year, they returned to Saint Ita. And she said to them: “Your father now has rest through your gifts and my petitions—indeed, through the mercy of God. Therefore guard yourselves from unlawful worldly things for which your father was tormented.” And they, giving thanks to God and to his handmaid, returned to their own homes.

⁶⁵ On a certain day a layman, very sorrowful over the death of his son, came to Saint Ita weeping, and speaking plainly, saying: “Know this, holy one of God, for certain: I will not depart from your dwelling, nor will I cease wailing, until you raise my dead son.” Blessed Ita answered him gently: “What you ask of me, O man, is not of my power, but of the apostles and those like them.” Then the man said: “What grieves me most is this: my son’s tongue was bound before his death, so that he could not confess God, nor speak any words to us. I ask you, therefore, to pray to the Holy Trinity, that my son may live again at least for one day, so that I may hear his words.” Blessed Ita replied: “For how long will you be content, if the merciful Lord, who raises the dead, has mercy on you and raises your son?” He said: “I would be grateful even for the space of one day.” The handmaid of Christ said to him: “He will live for seven years and seven months and seven days.”

⁶⁶ After this, the dead man, while the blessed virgin prayed, immediately arose; and he lived neither less nor more than was foretold to him through the mouth of the prophetic virgin.

⁶⁷ At another time Saint Luchtichernus and Saint Lasreanus, abbots, said to one another: “Let us go to visit the handmaid of God, Saint Ita.” Then a certain young man foolishly and unwisely said to them: “What business have you, wise and great men, going to that old woman?” Rebuking him, the saints said to him: “You have spoken badly, brother; for now the prophetess of God already knows what you have said.” Then the saints went on to blessed Ita, taking the young man with them.

⁶⁸ When they came to the door of the monastery, the virgins recognized Saint Luchtichernus, because he frequently visited the most blessed Ita; and entering, they announced it to the bride of Christ, saying: “This is a good day for us today, because Saint Luchtichernus is visiting you.” The holy mother replied to them: “He who has come with him is no less before God, that is, Saint Lasreanus son of Colman, whom you did not greet because you did not recognize him.” For through the Spirit Saint Ita knew by name and merit the one whom she had never seen.

⁶⁹ And when they came to blessed Ita so that she might bless them, the handmaid of God immediately said to that aforementioned young man: “Why have you come to an old woman, when you said, ‘What good would it do the saints to come to me?’” Then the young man did penance, while the saints prayed for him. The saints stayed there happily for three days; and having received permission and a blessing from the most blessed Ita, they returned to their own places.

⁷⁰ The prophecy of Saint Ita was shown in many miracles, as you will hear in this miracle. One day the virgin of Christ, Ita, said to her household: “What words do I hear? Look who have come to our place.” And her people went outside and saw two brothers of the same womb, well known to them. Returning, they said to the handmaid of God: “These are two brothers from this land, whom we know well.” Then the wondrous prophetess, blessed Ita, groaning, said: “Woe, woe to them, and my sorrow over them increases; for one will soon kill the other.” And the outcome soon proved this to be so.

⁷¹ For indeed one brother killed the other with his own hands. Then that evildoer was bound in chains by the ruler of the region of Hua Conaill, to be quickly handed over to death. But the virgin of Christ took pity on him, saying: “The unhappy mother of them will be sorrowful, since she has lost the first; and if she loses this one, she will be deprived of both. Moreover, the Son of God, whom my soul loves, does not wish this man to perish in his sins, but to be preserved for repentance.”

⁷² Afterward she sent to the aforementioned ruler, asking that he be released to her. And the man was sent to her, and the messengers said to her: “Release him, virgin of God, and receive him into your trust, if it seems good to you; and if he does any harm against the kingdom, it will be laid to your charge. Take him, therefore, and let him do penance.” Saint Ita replied to them: “I know that he will not at once do penance, but afterward he will repent well.” And so it happened. For when the guilty man was immediately released, he did not wish to do penance at once, but just as Saint Ita had foretold. The bride of Christ awaited it patiently—not repentance forced, but voluntary—because God has left each person to his own free will.

⁷³ After these events a great war was stirred up against the people of Hua Conaill by many enemies. But the aforementioned people, with their matron present—blessed Ita—sought God’s help through her against the great multitude of enemies. Then blessed Ita, sympathizing with them, prayed to God, saying: “Holy Trinity and inseparable Unity, Father and Son and Holy Spirit, help with aid those few and wretched men of mine, who have kindly received me in your name within their borders, and have taken me as their matron; for they have no human help against this excessive multitude of western enemies of Munster.” The people of Hua Conaill, trusting in the prayers of the most blessed Ita, boldly went out against the great multitude of enemies and fought courageously. And when they were striking one another with great wounds, by God’s aid, clearly through the prayer of the most holy Ita, they turned the battle into a flight; and the people of Hua Conaill made a great slaughter of them. And the people of Hua Conaill, most victorious in the battle, returning, gave thanks to God and to their matron, the most blessed Ita, for the victory granted to them. The victors of Christ were few against many, because Saint Ita prayed for them.

⁷⁴ Then the most blessed Ita said to one of her servants: “Go to the place where the battle was fought, and seek there the one who promised me to do penance and has still not done so; and you will find him hiding in the slaughter of the battle, wounded.” For he was a soldier, and in the first line of the battle he was wounded. And the messenger of the virgin found him, as she had indicated to him. And he brought him back to blessed Ita; and kindly received by her, he was healed of his wounds. And afterwards he did worthy penance, according to the command of the most blessed virgin Ita, and died a blessed death.

⁷⁵ On another day the blessed Ita said to her household: “At this hour a soul in our household is stained. Go, and carefully consider who is now being taken from our flock by the lurking wolf.” Then the household of the most blessed virgin searched out the crime that had been done, and they could not discover which person among them had sinned. And the whole household was gathered before blessed Ita, and each one denying it individually, said: “I did not commit that sin.” One who denied, together with the others, the one who had sinned, the blessed Ita, filled with the spirit of prophecy, said to that one denying: “You sinned today in fornication.” And she did not repent, nor did she confess; but with the shame of her sin she departed. Wandering through many places, she became a servant in the region of the Connachta, and she bore a daughter. After a long time, blessed Ita said to her household: “Our sister, once free, is now a servant in the house of a certain magician in the land of the Connachta, and she is now doing penance; and if she were free, she would amend herself faithfully.” Afterwards the most blessed virgin Ita sent messengers to blessed Brendan the abbot, living in the region of the Connachta, so that he might seek the freedom of the same woman. And Saint Brendan, humble, at the command of Christ’s bride Ita, aided the king of the Connachta for her, and made her free with her daughter. And she, sent by blessed Brendan, with her daughter, came to blessed Ita, and was received by her, rejoicing at her arrival. And she, doing worthy penance, remained in the monastery of the pious matron Ita, in holiness, until her death, with her daughter.

⁷⁶ On a certain day the most blessed virgin Ita, venerable in her old age, having gathered her virgins before her, indicating that her death was near, gently said to them: “Abbas Cluana my lord, Mac Nisse, has sent messengers to me to bring back blessed water from me to Abbot Aengus, who is very ill; for they hope for his health if it should happen that he drinks water consecrated by me. Now I will bless that water for them: they are sorrowful messengers; and tell them that I have blessed that water. For look, I shall die before they come here; and before they return to their home, the holy Aengus will depart to heaven.” And so all these things happened, according to the prophecy of the most blessed prophetess Ita.

⁷⁷ Afterwards the most holy matron Ita was seized by infirmity; and she began to bless and admonish her city, and the clergy and people of Hua Conaill, who had received her as their matron. And visited by many saints of both sexes, among the choirs of saints, with rejoicing angels going to meet her soul, after the greatest multitude of virtues, the most glorious virgin Ita most happily departed in the sight of the holy Trinity on the eighteenth day before the Kalends of February. And her most blessed body, with many people gathered around it in procession, after miracles had been performed—which still do not cease to be shown there—gloriously, after the solemnities of the Masses, was delivered to burial in her monastery, which the holy Ita herself had founded, second only to Brigid in merits and conduct, from the district, while our Lord Jesus Christ reigned, who with God the Father and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, God, for ever and ever. Amen.

⁷⁸ Here ends the Life of the most holy Virgin Ita.