Propaganda, religione, franchismo. Il culto della Vergine del Pilar durante la Guerra civile

Abstract

Propaganda, religion, Francoism. The Virgin of Pilar worship during the Civil War

This article is about the Virgin of Pilar worship and shrine during the Spanish Civil War. The bombing of the pilarista church on August 3rd, 1936 encouraged the rural and traditionalist populations of the rebel area to develop a miracle mentality. The visits of the caudillos at the feet of the Holy Column as a reparation for offences had turned an essentially counter-revolutionary movement into a crusade in defence of the western and Christian faith and civilization. The analysis of the different political stances of the rebel area press highlight the modernization of the interpretative macro-model by which the anti-secular and integristas sectors conceived the wars starting from the Peninsular War in 1808. The Fiesta del Pilar and the Day of the Race in the war years show that the Virgin of Pilar became part of the different political cultures of those who won the war and highlight the syncretic approach typical of Spanish fascism. Furthermore, under a comparative and long-term perspective, the essay underlines both the changing tone of the celebrations according to the circumstances of the war and international events, as well as the role of intellectuals and local authorities in the organization of religious and patriotic ceremonies.

Received: 22-01-2013