Figure 1.--This is a First Communion group at the Catholic parish church of Nossa Senhora do Perpétuo Socorro, in Brasilia. They are seen here after the Mass. It is quite common in Brazil that the children receive their First Communion in bare feet. A reader tells us that the church is in the quarter of Lago Sul, an upper-middle class neighborhood. I see that nowadays in many Brazilian parishes the children receive their First Communion in bare feet. Probably this is a custom inspired in Exodus 3:5 'And he said, Draw not nigh hither: put off thy shoes from off thy feet, for the place whereon thou standest is holy ground.'"

The Catholic Church is the dominant Christian denomination in Brazil. The great proprtion of the population, however, has remained Catholic and continue to be so today. The Church has played a major role in the history and cultural life of the country. Every Brazilian town of any size has a Catholic church ;ovated on the central plaza. Until the mid-20th century, it was virtually the only dnomination. For four centuries, it was the only Christian denomination permitted by civil authorities. Even today the vast portion of Brazilians are Catholic or culturally Catholic. Other churches, including Pentecostal, Episcopal, Methodist, Lutheran, and Baptist, exist in Brazil. Beginning from a relatively small base, Prottestantism in Brazil has grown to become an increasingly important minority. There are followers of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints. Brazil appears to be largest Catholic country in the world. It is difficult, however, to assess just what this means. The population is culturally Catholic, but actual church attendance is relatively low. Thus while Catholic church attendance is low, Catholic iconography is everywhere, such as Jesus mud flaps in the omipresent trucks which ply Brazilian highways. Protestants today have grown to an estimated 20 percent of the population and are dominated by the Pentacostal churches, an amazing development in only a few decades. The impact on Brazil is yet to be determined.

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Created: 12:46 AM 6/6/2014