There is a tradition (I don't recall it's address, but a tool such as
Smith and Wace, DictChristianBiog, should have it) that Jacob/James "the
righteous," aka "brother of the Lord," was also known as "camel kneed,"
for the same reasons (prayer). I wonder whether this description is even
older (e.g. in Judaism) -- or for that matter, how old the kneeling
posture for prayer can be documented, and in what cultures/traditions.
Bob
--
Robert A. Kraft, Religious Studies, University of Pennsylvania
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http://ccat.sas.upenn.edu/rs/rak/kraft.html
>
> The same is said in St Birgitta of Sweden's Vita, that her knees became as
> hard as those of a camel. Presumably her daughter Catherine saw them. I had
> thought this was noted because both mother and daughter would have seen
> camels on their Holy Land pilgrimage in 1372. but now I sadly realise it is
> just a hagiographical topos! |However, I can remember as a novice when my
> knees got calloused!
>
> >* Tarsilla, virgin (sixth century)
> >- aunt of St Gregory the Great; after her death, her knees were found to
> >be as hard as camel hide, due to her continual kneeling in prayer (this,
> >according to Gregory's testimony)
> >
> ____
> Julia Bolton Holloway, [log in to unmask]
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