Our Lady of Fátima and the Nationalism of the Estado Novo

Abstract

In this paper I would like to state that Fatima’s apparitions took place in a specific context of modernization and not as a result of an ideological plan. Salazar’s regime used these apparitions politically little time afterwards they occurred. Finally I would like to underline that Fatima became a sacred icon not just only for popular religiosity but also for national identity. To sum up, I want to argue that the visions themselves were not politically induced. They were the outcome of particular social context where Salazar’s political message was able to take its chance.