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.

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.

Pêro Vaz de Caminha made this interesting account: On Easter Sunday morning, the Captain decided to attend Mass and preaching on that islet.

And he delivered a solemn and profitable sermon on the story of the Gospel, at the end of which he spoke about our coming and the discovery of this land, conforming to the sign of the Cross, under whose obedience we came, which was very fitting and caused much devotion.

Vaz de Caminha also requested the prompt arrival of a clergyman from the king to baptize them in order to learn more about their faith.