After Jesus’s death, resurrection, and ascension into heaven, early Christians living in Jerusalem began to memorialize Jesus’s passion, particularly the path that he walked starting from Pilate’s judgement hall to Calvary, where Jesus was crucified.  This became known as the road to Calvary, or the Way of the Cross.  Over time, stops were developed to note specific events on the road to Calvary.  Today, we refer to these stops as

stations.  Over the centuries, as more and more pilgrims visited the Holy Land, they encountered this devotion and brought it back to their homes and the devotion spread.  One can pray the Stations of the Cross at any time, but it is especially popular on Fridays during the Season of Lent.