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GERPH-18-TF - Lesson II The Rizal Retraction

The document discusses the conflicting accounts surrounding José Rizal's alleged retraction of his writings and beliefs shortly before his execution. It presents the accounts of Jesuit priests Fr. Vicente Balaguer and Fr. Pio Pi, who claimed Rizal renounced Masonry and returned to the Catholic faith. It also shares the analysis of Rafael Palma and others who argued against the retraction's authenticity. Major arguments for and against the retraction are outlined. The document aims to guide discussion on the reliability and implications of the different historical sources regarding this controversial event.

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Dan Fernando
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855 views

GERPH-18-TF - Lesson II The Rizal Retraction

The document discusses the conflicting accounts surrounding José Rizal's alleged retraction of his writings and beliefs shortly before his execution. It presents the accounts of Jesuit priests Fr. Vicente Balaguer and Fr. Pio Pi, who claimed Rizal renounced Masonry and returned to the Catholic faith. It also shares the analysis of Rafael Palma and others who argued against the retraction's authenticity. Major arguments for and against the retraction are outlined. The document aims to guide discussion on the reliability and implications of the different historical sources regarding this controversial event.

Uploaded by

Dan Fernando
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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LESSON II

THE RIZAL RETRACTION

DID RIZAL DIED CATHOLIC?


OR
DID RIZAL MARRIED JOSEPHINE
BRACKEN?
THE JOSÉ PROTACIO RIZAL
RETRACTION MERCADO Y ALONSO
REALONDA
December 19, 1896 at
11:30 pm
Witnesses:
Juan Del Presno
- Chief of the Guard
Eloy Moure
- Adjutant of Plaza
December 30, 1896
La Voz Espanola
Diario De Manila

February 14 ,1897
La juventud (Barcelona, Spain)

May 18, 1935


Fr. Balaguer’s Text
RETRACTION CONTROVERSY
Rizal’s extraction from religious error has
been a very controversial claim since it was
first brought up which is most talked about and
most debated about Rizal. In it, Rizal disowns
all his life’s work.
Fr. Vicente Balaguer’s Statement

Fr. Vicente Balaguer was one of the Jesuit priests who visited Rizal
during his last hours in Fort Santiago and claimed that he managed to
persuade Rizal to denounce Masonry and return to the Catholic fold. In
an affidavit executed in 1917 when he had returned to Spain, Balaguer
also claimed that he was the one who solemnized the marriage of
Josephine Bracken and Rizal hours before the hero’s execution.
THE ACCOUNT
◦ Dr. Rizal should make a retraction of errors publicly
professed to him in words and writings and a profession of
the Catholic faith.
◦ He finished the writings, and thus it remained. It was half
past eleven; it was dated December the twenty-ninth.
◦ This declaration or retraction was signed together with Dr.
Rizal by Senior Fresmo, Chief of the Picket, and Senior
Moure, Adjustment of the Plaza.
I have personally intervened and witnessed it
myself; and I subscribe and confirm it with an
oath

Before Rizal reached Bagumbayan, I went to


the Ateneo and delivered the aforementioned
document to Father Pio Pi, who that very day
brought it to the Palace and handed it to
Archbishop Nozaleda.
RETRACTION LETTER
Contains Rizal
renunciation of the
Masonry and his anti-
Catholic religious
ideas.
Fr. Pio pi’s Statement
Fr. Pio pi was the Jesuit Superior in the Philippines during the time
when Rizal was executed. In 1917, he issued an affidavit recounting
his involvement in the alleged retraction of Rizal. Unlike Father
Balaguer, however, he was involved only in securing the retraction
document from the Archbishop of Manila Bernardino Nozaleda, and
writing another shorter retraction document as well which was the one
Rizal allegedly copied.
THE ACCOUNT
◦Rizal himself, without pressure from anyone, took
into his hands his own document and knelt down
before the altar of the chapel. Aloud and slowly,
and even with a certain solemnity, he read his
own retraction.
The copy of Rizal’s
letter after his
execution that
translated in English.
•December 29, 1896
•Allegedly signed by
Rizal and 2
witnesses
•Discovered and
exposed by Father
Manuel Garcia
•On May 18, 1935
In the supposed retraction document, he is alleged
to have written:

“I declare myself a Catholic and in this religion


in which I was born and educated I wish to live and
die. I retract with all my heart whatever in my words,
writings, publications and conduct has been contrary
to my character as son of the Catholic Church.”
December 29, 1896
Father Balaguer, SJ and Father Pi,
SJ visited Rizal in Fort Santiago
to try to convice him to sign the
retraction document
RAFAEL PALMA’S CRITICAL
ANALYSIS
◦Lawyer, writer, educator, and politician Rafael
Palma was the author of Biografia de rizal, a
work on the life of the National Hero which won
a literacy contest in 1938 sponsored by the
Commonwealth Government.
THE ANALYSIS
◦ We must consider the weight and value of these testimonies which to be
partial and interested.
◦ Rizal was not reconciled with the Catholic Church, judging from the way
they treated him after his death. In the first place, the document of
retraction was kept secret so that no one exept the authorities was able to
see it at that time.
◦ Nobody saw the original. In fact, the original was kept in such a way that it
was not found until after thirty years had transpired. In the second place,
the family of Rizal asked for the original of said document or a copy of it as
well as a copy of the certificate of canonical marriage with Josephine
Bracken, both petitions were denied. In the third place, Rizal’s burial was
kept secret, the cadaver having been delivered to the members of a
Catholic association friendly to the friars instead of being delivered to the
family, who had claimed it.
Reasons for Retraction
•To be buried in a Catholic Cemetery
•Wanted to die Catholic
•Wanted to marry Josephine Bracken
Did Rizal married to Josephine Bracken?
•Priest – wanted a retraction as a precondition before
marrying them.
•Few hours before Rizal execution (“To my dear unhappy
wife”)
•Advice of family and friends – Rizal took Josephine
Inconsistency
- Married Josephine Bracken at the morning of December 30, 1896.
- Mother and Sisters, were in his quarters and he gave them an
alcohol burner.
- The manuscript was allegedly misplaced from 1922-1935.
- Trinidad challenged the Jesuits to show her the manuscript so that
she could verify that it was Rizal’s handwriting and signature.
Major Arguments Supporting the
Retraction
1. Document
2. Witnesses
3. Acts of Faith, Hope, and Charity
4. Signed a Prayer book
5. Acts of Piety
6. Catholic marriage to Josephine Bracket
7. Buried inside sacred grounds (Paco Cemetery)
Major Arguments against the Retraction
1. Forgery (Dr. Ricardo Pascual, U.P)
2. Facts don’t fit
3. Out of character of Rizal
GUIDE QUESTIONS:
1. WHO ARE THE SOURCE OF THE CONFLICTING ACCUNTS
OR ANALYSES ON THE RIZAL RETRACTION?
2. WHAT ARE THEIR ACCOUNTS OR ANALYSES? HOW ARE
THEY SIMILAR TO AND/ OR DIFFERENT FROM ONE
ANOTHER?
3. WHICH AMONG THE ACCOUNTS OR ANALYSES DO YOU
CONSIDER THE MOST CONVINCING AND RELIABLE? WHY?
CONTRIBUTIONS AND RELEVANCE
OF THE DOCUMENTS
LEARNING EXPERIENCES
REFERENCES:

BATIS Sources in Philippine History,C & E Publishing, inc (2018), Jose Victor
Torres,

RETRACTION-OF-JOSE-RIZAL, COURSE HERO,


https://www.coursehero.com/file/15406756/RETRACTION-OF-JOSE-RIZAL/?justUnlocked=1#/doc/q
a
, (2020). Course Hero, Inc.

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