From about the fourth century on, Christians began making pilgrimages to the Holy Land. One of the most popular practices for these pilgrims was to walk the path that Jesus was thought to have walked as he carried his cross through the streets of Jerusalem. Three centuries later, the Holy Land was taken over by the Muslims and travel there by pilgrims became much more difficult.
Beginning in the 11th century, Christian armies were formed to try to retake the Holy Land and maintain it as a Christian state. They had some successes, but were unable to achieve long-term control.
These "crusades" ultimately failed, but those who participated in them (having themselves walked the "way of the cross") returned home and began the practice of building replicas of the places that Jesus passed on the way to his death. The number of these stations varied widely, usually between seven and 30.
In 1731, the Church settled on the 14 stations that have become standard.
- Little Black Book, Diocese of Saginaw