First Mass in Brazil
The first mass in Brazil was celebrated by Portuguese friar and bishop Henrique de Coimbra on April 26, 1500 (May 6 in the current calendar), a Sunday, on the beach of Coroa Vermelha, in Santa Cruz Cabrália, on the southern coast of Bahia. History The event was described by Pêro Vaz de Caminha in a Letter to the King D. Manuel, which he sent to the King of Portugal, Manuel I (1469-1521), informing him about the arrival in Brazil, then called Ilha de Vera Cruz (Island of the True Cross), by the fleet of Pedro Álvares Cabral that was heading to India. Those who participated in the mass were the Portuguese members of the expedition, mostly sailors. Cabral and Caminha were also present. Pêro Vaz de Caminha made this interesting account: Some indigenous people peacefully accompanied the Catholic mass, seeming to imitate the movements made by the Portuguese, such as sitting down. This fact led Caminha to conclude that the future conversion of the natives to Catholicism would be an easy and peaceful mission. In the following days, the Portuguese tried to demonstrate to the indigenous people the respect they had for the cross, kneeling one by one and kissing