The Way of the Cross,as we know it currently, originating from a long tradition. It appeared much later in the West. It progressively will replace the pilgrimages to the Holy Land which had become dangerous because of the Ottoman occupation. According to Michel-Jean Picard, the Way of the Cross will not become really popluar until the 19th Century. In the West, it will become a "pilgrimage in miniature," as described by a pilgrim in Lourdes. It is a question of an exercise in spirituality calling to relive the Redemption that enriches humanity and brings a new hierarchical organization in the images of divine perfection.

有时，觉得人生如戏、如梦、如战争、如赛跑，这里，用耶稣当年走过的十字苦路来默观我们自己的人生之路。 在路德，依斯布拉格山上有用铜塑成的十四处苦路，整个朝圣季节，从早到晚，成千上万的朝圣者从四面八方涌来，他们边登这座小山边默想主的救赎奥迹……

耶稣在被交付罗马政府审判，被士兵们鞭打，被群众们侮辱之后，浑身是血，疲惫不堪，背上了沉重的十字架登加尔瓦略山。
整段苦路共分十四处，我在这里摘录几处与大家分享： 第四处：耶稣遇见了他的母亲，满脸泪水的圣母不顾士兵们的阻拦，向她的儿子走去…… 第七处：耶稣第二次跌倒，这次跌得更重了。耶稣的双手与双膝都碰撞在地上，但他立刻爬了起来。他的步履艰难缓慢，但他坚持前行。 第九处：耶稣第三次跌倒，耶稣明白：从这次跌倒直到最后被钉死，他不再有显示他对人爱与道的机会了，因为，士兵们推开了群众，耶稣被隔绝在了孤独之中。