Propaganda, religione, franchismo. La Vergine del Pilar durante la Guerra Civile spagnola (1936-1939)

ABSTRACT. – This article is about the Virgen del Pilar’s worship and shrine during the Spanish Civil War. The bombardment of the church of Pilar on August 3rd, 1936 gave rise to the miraculous attitude developed by the rural and traditionalist populations of the rebel area. The caudillos visits at the feet of the Holy Column as offend reparation (in desagravio) had converted an essentially counter-revolution movement in a cruzada in defense of the Western and Christian faith and civilization. The analysis of the different political sides of the rebel area press, will highlight the interpretative macro-model modernization, by which the anti-secular and integristas sectors conceived the wars starting from the Peninsular War in 1808. The Pilar and Race’s Fiestas study, that followed one another during the war, highlights the Virgen del Pilar insertion in a lot of different political cultures related to the winner’s area and the syncretic approach, typical of the Spanish fascism. Furthermore, in a comparative and longue durée perspective, the essay will underline both the celebrations tone’s transformation linked with the change of the war and international’s events and the intellighenzia and local authorities central role in the organization of religious and patriotic ceremonies