On this day, more than 500 years ago, the first Mass was celebrated in Brazil, the country with the largest number of Catholics in the world, with more than 180 million faithful.
On April 26, 1500, Sunday of the Octave of EasterBrother Henrique de Coimbra presided over the first Eucharist in Brazil, accompanied by other priests on Coroa Vermelha beach, in the town of Santa Cruz Cabrália, in the state of Bahia.
The Portuguese explorer and writer Pêro Vaz de Caminha said in a letter sent to King Don Manuel, that the Misa It was held on a “very well set altar” and that the celebration was “followed by everyone with great pleasure and devotion.”