Wednesday 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.
Friday 17th January, St. Antony, abbot. He died in 356; the ‘father of monasticism’, lived a life of solitude but also attracted many others to form communities of hermits.
Saturday 18th January – Week of Prayer for Christian Unity begins. It continues up to January 25th, the Feast of the Conversion of St. Paul.