Auto-da-fé

Auto-da-fé is an old practice, which means "act of faith" in Portuguese. It was a ceremony held by the Spanish and Portuguese Inquisition, where people were tried and punished for breaking religious laws, like heresy or blasphemy. During the ceremony, people were brought before a court and judged by Church officials. If they were found guilty, they were given a punishment, such as being hanged, burned at the stake, or being thrown in prison. The auto-da-fé was used to punish religious offences and have people follow the rules of the Church, but it also served as a way to scare people into accepting Church authority and its teachings.