Jose Rizal: A Hero-Saint?

By: Quennie Ann J. Palafox

The article entitled “Jose Rizal: A Hero-Saint?” was written by Quennie Ann J.

Palafox and was published by the National Historical Commission of the Philippines at

T.M. Kalaw Street, Ermita, Manila on the 19 th day of September 2012. The article

discussed about how Dr. Rizal was canonized together with the three priests namely

Fathers Jose Burgos, Mariano Gomez, and Jacinto Zamora or what we know as the

GomBurZa because of their martyrdom that they have shown during the time that the

Philippines was under the powers of Spaniards. There are lot of evidence during that

time that the Philippine Independent Church holds to prove that Dr. Jose Rizal and the

three (3) priests was canonized and really became saints.

It is stated in the article that in the Book of Divine Office of the PIC or the “The

Filipino Missal” that was published in 1961 that it contains the important feasts of the

church just like the birthday of Manuel L. Quezon (August 19) and the death of Dr. Jose

Rizal (December 30). It is also stated there that Rizal’s death anniversary was

celebrated in a manner similar to those of the saints. Rizal together with the three (3)

priests became saints when Wenceslao E. Retana, a noted Filipinologist and biographer

of Rizal, cited the “Acta de Canonizacion de los grandes Martires de la Patria Dr. Rizal

y PP. Burgos, Gomez y Zamora” (Proceedings of the Canonization of the Great Martyrs

of the Country Dr. Rizal and Fathers Burgos, Gomez and Zamora) that was published in

Madrid in 1907 and with the official organ of the sect, La Iglesia Filipina Independiente

in 1903. The 4 said persons was canonized following the Roman Catholic rites and
recorded in the book of proceedings of the Independent Church and signed by bishops

including Gregorio Aglipay. Their statues were honoured at the altars of the sect, as for

the case of Rizal, novenas were written in his honor just like the Novena a

Pagdaydayaw ken Santo Martir Dr. Jose Rizal written by Tomas Velasco. Unfortunately

the Acta and the Ilokano novena honouring Rizal would seem to be the only materials

pertaining to Rizal’s canonization. As of today, no one can see the statue or even

picture of Rizal upon the altars of the PIC. Rizal’s birthday and death anniversary are no

longer celebrated by the PIC in accordance with ceremonies restricted for saints.

Considering all the facts stated in the article, the strength there will be how the

evidences are presented to consider Rizal and the three (3) priests as heroes because

of what they have done for our country. The people at that time may be thought of how

they can repay all the sacrifices Rizal has made and they have come up to the idea of

canonizing Rizal to become a saint to honour and celebrate his fruitful life just for the

sake of his own country. This articles made us realized that Dr. Jose Rizal is such a well

deserve person to be honoured because he has lived his life not only for himself, a

selfless deed is an enough reason for a person to be consider as hero of his own

country. As for the weakness that can be seen in the article, for me it is how adequate is

the evidence to consider the four (4) persons as saints. We all know that before a

person is considered as saint are there are lot of the qualifications that one must meet

just to be known as one. There are lot of factors to be meet, for me evidences for them

are just not enough that is why in today’s time there are no documents that can justify

that Rizal and the three (3) priests was canonized and was a saint after all. In today’s

generation, lawfully speaking, things will not be consider as true if there are no
documents or evidences to justify it. People will no longer believe if there are no

justifications about it.

This article let us realize that the heroism of a person can be also a reason for

us to be remembered by anyone. If you do such things that will be for the common good

of all you will be rewarded and rewards can be in any form. It can be by material things,

being honoured or praised and so on. There are lot of things that Dr. Jose Rizal taught

us that we should apply in our daily lives. These things are the most cherished memory

that Rizal has during his life way back then. He wanted us to be as nationalistic as him

not only in words but also in deeds. There are still people who will do wrong things to us

that will surely may feel us down but we should always remember how brave and strong

Dr. Rizal to fight for his country even if he is alone or not. His principles in life are the

one that keeps him going even if it will cost his life. Rizal is the very best example for

the youth of today and for the next generations, he never fails to let us see how

beautiful life is and it is very important to fight for the things you most truly adore and

that are our motherland and the people around us. We owe everything to our country,

as a return we will fight for her and do all things that we know that can contribute to the

betterment of all and of our country.