Canguaretama, in addition to staging one of the greatest spectacles of natural beauty was also the scene of one of this state's largest bloodbaths. On July 16, 1645, Father André de Soveral and an additional 70 Catholics were cruelly massacred by over 200 Dutch soldiers and Indians. The faithful were engaged in Sunday Mass, in the chapel of Our Lady of Candeias, on the Cunhaú sugar plantation for which the region is named. In fact, the plantation is located closest to the town of Canguaretama , somewhat distant from Praia do Sagi.

According to the "Postulator of the Cause of Martyrs", Monsignor Francisco de Assis Pereira , in his book, Protomártires do Brasil [Protomartyrs of Brazil]: "The Dutch reached the Captaincy of Rio Grande on December 8, 1633. After the surrender by the Portuguese at the Fortress of the Three Kings at the entrance to the city of Natal , the main concern of the invaders was to dominate, as quickly as possible, the strategic points that ensured the region's economy and the livelihood of the populace".

The economy of Rio Grande do Norte was still quite primitive. Residents survived off of the planting of maize and cassava, and from fisheries and livestock. Another source of income for the captaincy was the sugarcane crop, and two sugar plantations in had been established in Rio Grande : Potengi and Cunhaú. The first to be invaded by the Dutch was Potengi, due to its proximity to Natal , although the Potengi enterprise was a small contributor to the economy of Rio Grande . The Cunhaú plantation, 80 km from Natal , was Rio Grande 's most important economic centre.

Situated in the valley of Cunhaú and irrigated by the river of the same name, the plantation was a vast field of green made up of sugarcane, maize, and cassava plantations. The sugarcane was processed on the plantation premises, which reached an annual harvest of six to seven thousand arroubas of sugar. The commodities of sugar, beef and flour were exported to the neighbouring states of Pernambuco and Paraíba by way of the Cunhaú River , which empties into the Atlantic Ocean .

For these reasons, Cunhaú became the target of great ambition and greed among the Dutch invaders in their bid to master the entire region and control its economy. Cunhaú's strategic position, halfway to Paraíba, turned it into a stage of bloody battles, revenge, and looting by Portuguese, Indians and Dutch.

DEATH IN THE CHAPEL OF CUNHAÚ
Once past the turbulence that marked the beginning of the Dutch occupation, life on the plantation seemed to return to normal. Around the Chapel of Our Lady of Candeias, 70 modest settlers lived peacefully with their families, dedicated to the work of farming and milling the sugarcane crop.

The insurrectionist movement against Dutch dominion had already begun to the south, in Pernambuco, but the captaincy of Rio Grande appeared unaffected by rebellious sentiment. The presence of one Jacó Rabe, nonetheless, a German in the service of the Dutch, was the key to turning the tide of growing tension.

Rabe was a known figure in Cunhaú. He conducted frequent raids in those parts, always accompanied by his friends and followers, the savage Tapuia Indians. The mere presence of Rabe and the Tapuias was enough to engender fear and suspicion. Along with the Tapuias, this time, Jacó Rabe brought with him the Potiguar Indian chief Jererera and Dutch soldiers, on a mission of official business, claiming to bear a message from the Supreme Dutch Council in Recife to the residents of Cunhaú.

The next day, a Sunday, taking advantage of the presence of a large number of settlers expected at church for Sunday Mass celebrated by parish priest Father André de Soveral, Jacó Rabe ordered an edict to be posted on the doors of the church, calling all to hear the orders of the Supreme Council, which would be issued after the Mass.

Many attended, but a torrential rain, providentially falling that morning, prevented the number from being greater. (...) As many regarded the presence of Jacó Rabe with a certain dread, some settlers resolved to wait at the mill.

When it was time for Mass, the faithful filed into the Chapel of Our Lady of Candeias. In compliance with their religious precept, it was evident that they were unarmed, as well as being prohibited by the Dutch authorities from carrying weapons.

It was enough for Father André to begin the celebration, along with a signal from Jacó Rabe, for all of the doors to the church to be suddenly closed and the terrible carnage to begin. It was a scene of great atrocities: the faithful in prayer, taken by surprise and completely defenceless, were cowardly attacked and murdered by the Flemish with the help of the Tapuia and Potiguar Indians. Upon realizing that they were to be sacrificed, the faithful did not rebel. To the contrary, they prayed, as Father André hastily recited the Act of Contrition.

Fonte: www.arquidiocesedenatal.org.br/Martires.htm