The Intimate

Alliance Between
Religion and Good
Education
DR. JOSE RIZAL
Rizal wrote this poem on April 1876,
before entering his fifth year in
Ateneo Municipal in June.
 THEME

EDUCATION

RELIGION

COMMON GOOD
 FIRST STANZA

As the climbing ivy over lefty elm

Creeps tortuously, together the adornment
Of the verdant plain, embellishing
Each other and together growing,
But should the kindly elm refuse its aid EDUCATION = Ivy
The ivy would impotent and friendless wither
So is Education to Religion
By spiritual alliance bound RELIGION = Elm
Through Religion, Education gains reknown, and
Woe to the impious mind that blindly spurning
The sapient teachings of religion, this
Unpolluted fountain-head forsakes.
 SECOND STANZA

As the sprout, growing from the pompous vine,

EDUCATION will lead us to Proudly offers us its honeyed clusters
greener pasture While the generous and loving garment
Feeds its roots; so the fresh’ning waters
Of celestial virtue give new life
To Education true, shedding
“The roots of education are On it warmth and light; because of them
The vine smells sweet and gives delicious fruit
bitter, but the fruit is sweet.”
-ARISTOTLE
 THIRD STANZA

Without Religion, Human Education EDUCATION without

Is like unto a vessel struck by winds RELIGION is comparable
Which, sore beset, is of its helm deprived to a vessel lost in a stormy
By the roaring blows and buffets of the dread sea
Tempestuous Boreas, who fiercely wields
His power until he proudly send her down
Into the deep abysses of then angered sea.
 FOURTH STANZA

As the heaven’s dew the meadow feeds and

strengthen
With the aid of religion, So that blooming flowers all the earth
education will be used for the Embrioder in the days of spring; so also
If Religion holy nourishes
common good. Education with its doctrine, she
Shall walk in joy and generosity
Toward the good, and everywhere bestrew
The fragrant and luxuriant fruits of virtue
EXCERPTS FROM THE POEM

Education without GOD is not true Education.