From the earliest days, followers of Jesus told the story of passion, death and resurrection. When Christians came to see Jerusalem, they were anxious to see the sites where Jesus was. These sites became important holy connections with Jesus. Eventually, following in the footsteps of the Lord, along the way of the cross, became a part of the Christian visit.

The stations came about when it was no longer easy or even possible to visit the holy sites. In the 1500s, villages all over Europe started creating "replicas" of the way of the cross, with small shrines commemorating the places along the route in Jerusalem. Pope John Paul II developed 14 stations that were more closely based on the Scriptures and these are the stations we follow today.

"A man can have no greater love than to lay down his life for his friends." (John 15:13)