The order was used to award persons for exceptional services that resulted in notable and proven utility to religion (Roman Catholicism), to humanity and the state.

Description of the Order of Christ in the Almanak Laemmert, court almanac published in 1889:[3] Created by King Dom Dinis, in 1316.

The Emperor is the Grand Master; the heir of the Crown is the Major-Commander.In 1834 the Portuguese Order of Christ was reformed by the Liberal government of Portugal and Queen Maria II (sister of Emperor Dom Pedro II).

In 1843 the Brazilian branch was also reformed by Emperor Dom Pedro II and became a national order with decree N.

[7] There were two ways to be admitted to the Order of Christ after the reform of 1861, they were: If filing a petition, the following requirements had to be completed:[7] Membership into the order was given for life, however, members could be expelled from the order if: a member lost his Brazilian citizenship for breaking articles 2, 3 or 7 of the Imperial constitution; if guilty of a criminal offence; if the individual lost his post in the Guarda Nacional as a result of a criminal offence; and if the individual committed a political crime that resulted in the loss of political rights.