The Importance of Certain Numbers

Sevens and threes are significant numbers in the Christian tradition. The most widely known examples are the Holy Trinity, the three days Christ lay dead before arising, and the seven days God spent creating the world and resting. Sevens appear several times in the beginning of the book: Seven-hundred kilometers from Saint-Jean-Pied-de-Port to San Tiago; seven days spent traveling what should have taken one; many of the RAM practices are to be performed for seven consecutive days, and Paulo took seven months to decide to undertake the journey. There are also several mentions of threes: three holy roads that pilgrims can travel; three different routes to San Tiago; three days of travel before they come across a yellow marker; and three days after Paulo climbs the waterfall he confronts Legion.

The book does not make clear what the RAM Tradition is but many times...