Guwahati, February 28, 2026: The Stations of the Cross, also known as the Way of the Cross or Via Crucis, remain one of the most enduring Lenten devotions of the Catholic Church. While widely practiced across the world, the devotion was not founded by a single saint or historical figure. Rather, it developed gradually over centuries through pilgrimage, prayer, and ecclesial guidance.
The origins of the devotion can be traced to early Christian pilgrims who journeyed to Jerusalem to retrace the path of Christ’s Passion. By the 12th to 14th centuries, pilgrims followed a route known as the Via Sacra, pausing at significant sites associated with the Lord’s suffering and death. These stopping points, however, were not yet formalized into the structured devotion known today.
In 1342, the Franciscan Order was entrusted with the care of the Holy Places in Jerusalem. Over time, Franciscans encouraged the faithful to meditate on Christ’s Passion at designated locations, and indulgences became associated with prayerful visits to these sites. The English pilgrim William Wey, who visited the Holy Land in 1458 and 1462, is credited with using the term “stations” to describe these devotional stops.
As travel to the Holy Land became difficult, especially during periods of political instability, European churches began constructing replicas of the Jerusalem shrines. In the 15th century, Passion chapels were built in various parts of Europe, including Cordoba, Messina, Nuremberg, and Louvain, enabling the faithful to undertake a spiritual pilgrimage within their local communities.
The number and sequence of the Stations varied until the 17th century, when the Church gradually standardized the devotion into fourteen Stations, beginning with Christ’s condemnation and concluding with His burial. In 1686, Pope Innocent XI granted the Franciscans permission to erect Stations in their churches and to transfer the indulgences attached to the Jerusalem pilgrimage to those who devoutly prayed them elsewhere. Subsequent papal decrees extended this privilege more widely.
The devotion was further popularized in the 18th century by St. Leonard of Porto Maurizio, who promoted the practice throughout Italy and beyond.
Today, the Stations of the Cross are recognized as a profound aid to meditation on the Passion of Christ. Rooted in pilgrimage, shaped by Franciscan stewardship, and affirmed by the Church’s authority, the devotion invites the faithful to accompany the Lord in His suffering and to contemplate the mystery of redemption with prayerful gratitude.