In Brazil, a unique trend is emerging: thousands of Catholics are waking before dawn to join live-streamed prayers from their phones and devices. Many tune in to the 4 a.m. broadcasts led by friar Gilson da Silva Pupo, widely known as Frei Gilson, whose videos now regularly draw millions of views.
One adherent, a psychologist named Cláudia, said she wakes at 3:40 a.m. to watch the livestream, explaining that the early hours are peaceful, quiet, and spiritually intimate. Others say it’s a way to disconnect from the noise of daily life and reconnect with faith.
These dawn prayer sessions are part of a broader digital push by the Catholic Church in Brazil. Analysts view Brazil as a testing ground for religious influencers seeking to revitalize practices through technology. The Catholic population has shrunk over recent decades, dropping from roughly 83% to just over half of the nation’s populace, making innovative approaches more urgent.
Frei Gilson reportedly began these early prayer streams during Lent in 2020, when he sought a deeper spiritual sacrifice beyond giving up food or drink. Over time, viewership has soared — some videos now hit over 4 million views. In one instance, a 40-day rosary program culminated in a dawn event with 37,000 attendees live in person, while many more joined online.
Interestingly, evangelical leaders have also adopted similar livestream formats — and in some cases, their audiences include Catholics. One Brazilian pastor said that his content focuses on Christ rather than denominational lines, and he avoids discussing politics to maintain broad appeal.
Scholars suggest that many people are turning to these digital religious spaces to escape political polarization. After years of division in churches tied to ideology, livestreamed prayer offers a more intimate, apolitical refuge. In this way, the trend echoes long-standing rituals of radio prayer or late-night vigils — reimagined for a connected, digital age.
Though Catholicism faces demographic challenges in Brazil, this surge in virtual devotion indicates that the faith may be transforming rather than fading. Through live prayers, hymns, devotionals, and personal ritual, the church continues to adapt — offering believers spiritual grounding in a rapidly changing world.
