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Virgin Mary of the Baton is an iconographical representation of the christian figure of the Madonna.

She spread initially in Monteleone (the future Vibo Valentia ) and in Nicastro (today part of Lamezia Terme) during the fascist period. It fell out of favour with the collapse of the fascist regime. A statue of the Virgin was present in Monteleone until the end of The second world war. The statue was the inspiration for icons and prayer cards.

Iconography
Virgin Mary of the Baton never achieved an official recognition from the Church, it was part of representations primarily statues and icons that became popular during the thirties. It's conceiving was inspired by certain sectors within the Catholic Church and the regime that wanted a closer relationship between clergy and fascism. Anticipating the birth of such figure was the Virgin Mary of the Fasces (1927) now stored in Predappio.

According to the fascist view of religion, in 1926, Francis of Assisi was thought to be the precursor of the Duce himself. Icons of Clare of Assisi were thought representing fascist iconography in the form of fasces(often depicted with the Saint) Through the various Icons and statues of The Virgin of the Baton many prayers for the Duce composed in these years were spread.

Her Image was elected by the Fascist party as the patron saint of squadristi and later on as protectress of all Fascists. A large Statue depicting Virgin Mary of the Baton was created as sacred furniture for a church in Monteleone by Giuseppe Malecore (1876-1967), a sculptor from Lecce specialized, like his father and his brother, in processing papier-maché. The Statue represented a Madonna with child in the typical iconography of Our Lady of Perpetual Help. The Sculpture held in its left hand Jesus Christ and in its right hand a knotty baton. At the woman’s feet another child was found standing. The original sculpture was made out of papier-maché and later on icons were created by taking pictures of the piece of art.

The Prayer
Asvero Gravelli, a Fascist Journalist, Director of the magazine “Antieuropa” and gatherer of fascist chants composed a prayer that was chosen to be printed on icons portraying the figure

Curiosities
The figure was portrayed in the Italian movie “Fascisti su Marte” (2006) directed by Corrado Guzzanti ..