Monday, 15th January, St Ita, was born in Co. Waterford of noble and Christian parents. Early on she set her mind on serving Christ in religious life. She founded a monastery in Killeedy, Co. Limerick, which attracted a great variety of young people. She was given the title ‘foster-mother of the saints of Ireland’. She died in 570.
Wednesday, 17th January, St Antony, died in 356. ‘Father of monasticism’, he lived a life of solitude but also attracted many others to form communities of hermits.