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october 1. anna wang, who ascended to heaven while wreathed in flowersThe soldier/bandit struck her remaining arm, and Anna knelt and grew radiant. She said the door of heaven is open. Then she whispered Christ's name three times, lowering her head and exposing her neck to the ax. The soldier/bandit made a final blow, severing her head from her body.
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OCTOBER 5. ANNA SCHÄFFER, WHO PASSED SLEEPLESS NIGHTS ON A BED-CROSS Anna said: "I have three keys to heaven. The biggest is made out of pig iron and is heavy—it is my suffering. The second is the sewing needle, and the third is the penholder. With these different keys, I strive each day to open the door to Heaven. Each of them must be decorated with three little crosses, which are prayer, sacrifice, and selflessness."
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october 5. flora of beaulieu, melancholy spiritWith help from a confessor, Flora "worked her way through the tunnel of depression," and was rewarded with stigmata, levitation, the gift of prophesy, and other mystical experiences. By one account, the purpose of the trials, difficulties, temptations, and ridicule she endured was to prepare her for these special gifts.
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October 7. osith, who carried her own cut-off head Osith was wed to a king against her will. A miraculous white stag ("whiter than any [the king] had ever seen") aided her by crashing the scene whenever the king tried to consummate their union; by one account, their son was conceived because "even stags have to sleep."
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OCTOBER 20. IRIa OF TOMAR, WHOSE LIFE ENDED AT "CONCEPTION"Once, a monk/tutor made improper advances on Iria. When she spurned him, he spread rumors that she was pregnant. In addition, he managed to serve her a "tea-tasting strange liquid" or potion that inflated her waist and gave her the appearance of a baby-filled womb.
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october 23. ODA OF SCOTLAND, THE RECLUSE IN THE WOODSWhenever Oda prayed in Dutch and Belgian villages, magpies disturbed her. She was unaware that these little creatures were God sent. Once again, Oda found herself in flight, either retreating from the magpies or being herded by them.
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