Saint Ita’s VISION OF CHRIST AS AN INFANT
Irish Saint Ita, patron saint of our community farm, is remembered for her nurturing care. Copied by an anonymous Irish scribe between the 8th and 13th centuries, the account describes a heavenly encounter by Saint Ita. Christ appears to her as an infant and nurses at her breast, and she sings to Him this lullaby:
Saint Ita’s Vision translated into English
“I will take nothing from my Lord,” said she,
“unless He gives me His Son from Heaven
In the form of a Baby that I may nurse Him.”
So that Christ came down to her
in the form of a Baby and then she said:
“Infant Jesus, at my breast,
Nothing in this world is true
Save, O tiny nursling, You.
Infant Jesus, at my breast,
By my heart every night,
You I nurse are not a churl
but were begot on Mary the Jewess
by Heaven’s Light.
Infant Jesus; at my breast,
what King is there but You who could
Give everlasting Good?
wherefore I give my food.
Sing to Him, maidens, sing your best!
There is none that has such right
to your song as Heaven’s King
Who every night
Is Infant Jesus at my breast.”
Baby Saint Brendan plays at the feet of Saint Ita. Photo: Saint Ita’s window at Saint Brendan’s Cathedral Baptistry in Loughrea.
CC License by Andreas F. Borchert
