On 25 декабря25 December15971597 an expedition of colonists, with two Jesuit and two Franciscan evangelists , arrived at Natal, Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil.
The region was colonized by Portuguese Catholics, but was invaded by Dutch Calvinists who soon took over the whole territory. They immediately made a policy of the persecution of Catholics. On Sunday 16 июля16 July16451645 at Cunhau, Brazil, 69 people were gathered in the Chapel of Our Lady of the Candles for Mass celebrated by Father Andre de Soveral. At the moment of the elevation a group of Dutch soldiers attack the Chapel, murdering many of the faithful including Father Andre; the parishioners died professing their faith, and asking pardon for their sins. On 3 октября3 October16451645 200 armed Indians and a band of Flemish troops, led by a fanatical Calvinist convert, hacked to death an unknown number of people of Rio Grande including СчастливыйBlessedАмбросио Франсиско ФерроAmbrosio Francisco Ferro and Blessed Mateus Moreiras.
