Rizal's Unfading Glory:

A Documentary History of the Conversion of Dr. Jose

Rizal

By Rev. Fr. Jesús María Cavanna y Manso, C.M.

Prepared by:
Viene Dagaraga
About the Author

Rev. Fr. Jesús María Cavanna y Manso, C.M. was a Catholic

priest from the order of the Congregation of the Mission.
Fr. Cavanna was of Filipino-Spanish heritage. He often spoke in
English and Spanish but he was also very fluent in Tagalog, and
Latin. He spent his last years as a formator, spiritual advisor and
teacher to Vincentian Seminarians in Quezon City.
Fr. Cavanna died in San Juan De Dios Hospital in 1994. He was a
well loved and respected member of the Vincentian family.
Rizal's Unfading Glory begins with a translation of the testimony presented in Pinana's very
famous volume Mun'd El Doctor Rizal Christiunamente? Although the English translation is
somewhat inadequate in certain instances , because it is too literal and therefore unidiomatic, s till
one can see that the work has been very thorough, analytical and pains taking. No stone has been left
unturned. Every possible angle, every possible detail, and every possible statement has been
meticulously checked and rechecked before its inclusion in the book, in order that the testimony may
be truly definitive and convincing.

Rizal’s Retraction
Rizal’s Retraction

Testimony of the newspapers

 Testimony of the newspapers

Newspapers around the world published articles about his retraction and several even published a
copy of the actual retraction. Apart from minor defects in translation and occasionally differing details
between some articles, they are all substantially unanimous in essence.
Manila Papers – Diario De Manila, La Voz Espanola, El Espanol, El Comercio, La Oceania Espanola
Madrid Papers – El Imparcial, Heraldo De Madrid, El Siglo Futuro, and other Madrid dailies
Foreign Papers – O Extremo Oriente
These small differences serve to show that these newspapers did not get the information from one
source alone, and that they were not dependent on one another for the information.
Testimony of eyewitnesses

Rizal’s Retraction
Reverend Vicente Balaguer Llacer, S.J.
1. “The priest who became God’s instrument in the conversion and retraction of Rizal”
2. He witnessed Father Viza returning a small figurine Rizal made when he was studying. (Studying at Ateneo)
3. Upon telling Rizal that if he did not repent he would damn himself, Rizal was moved to tears and said that he would not damn
himself.
4. Aided Rizal in the writing of his retraction by providing a simple formula for the details which his retraction must contain.
(The first retraction was rejected because it was lengthy.)
5. Witnessed Rizal actually writing his retraction.
6. In the morning, he left Rizal with Josephine Bracken and one of Rizal’s sisters in the chapel. He brought the retraction to a
priest of the Ateneo, Father Pio Pi. This was given to the Archbishop Nozaleda, whose secretary kept it in the chest of reserved
documents.

Testimony of eyewitnesses
Captain Rafael Dominguez y Garcia
1. “Colonel of the Manila Garrison and Judge Advocate in Rizal’s trial, on duty to watch over the convict all the time he was in
the chapel” (12)
2. Witnessed the conversation of Rizal and the Fathers.
3. At about midnight, he recites his confession to Fr. Vilaclara. He knelt down in front of the altar and read aloud the
declaration which he had written himself.

Lt. Mariano Martinez Gallegos

1. Witnessed Rizal’s conversion to the Catholic faith and the clear testimony which he gave
2. Was also present when Rizal signed the retraction with Fresno and Moure as witnesses.

Testimony of eyewitnesses
 Testimony of eyewitnesses

Reverend Luis Viza y Marti, S.J.

1. “The priest who brought to Rizal the statuette of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which became a providential instrument of God’s
grace in the conversion of Rizal” Father Viza returned to Rizal a small figurine of the Sacred Heart of Jesus which Rizal had
carved himself 20 years ago as a student in the Ateneo and seems to be one of the factors in his making the decision to write a
retraction.
2. Rizal desired to receive the sacrament of confession and of marriage

Very Reverend Pio Pi y Vidal, S.J.

1. Composed the formula of Rizal’s retraction
2. Was given a holograph of the retraction. After making a copy of it for their archives, he delivered it to the archbishop.
Testimony of eyewitnesses

Lt. Juan del Fresno del Amo

1. His name was mentioned all over the press.

Lt. Eloy Moude y Gomez

1. “Official witness[es] of the handwritten retraction and profession of faith of Dr. Jose Rizal”
2. Signed the official handwritten document

Most Reverend Bernardino Nozaledo y Villa

1. “Archbishop of Manila, who sent the Jesuit fathers to assist Dr. Jose Rizal in his last hours”
2. Knew that the holograph was being stored in the archives and testified that the newspapers and periodicals of Manila
published a copy of the text as well as various other details of his execution.
Rizal’s Retraction

Rizal’s holograph
 Rizal’s holograph

How it was lost

1. When the holograph was first stored away, no one dreamed of how important it would be. The
controversy began when certain groups of people began clamouring to see the document, only to
discover that the document could not be found in the archive because of the sheer number of other
documents there.
2. It became pointless to say that it didn’t matter what had happened to the document. Unless it could
be found, the people remained unconvinced.
How it was found
Manuel Gracia, the archdiocesan archivist in 1935, discovered the documents but had the prudence to
keep it to himself until he could reveal it to the right authorities. A few months later, the Philippine
Herald published the findings with the headline “RIZAL’S RETRACTION FOUND”.

Its Genuineness
Prof. H. Otley Beyer and Dr. Jose I. Del Rosario concluded that it was authentic.

Rizal’s holograph
Rizal’s Retraction

Cavanna’s conclusions
With quiet sincerity Father Cavanna says :

“With quiet sincerity Father Cavanna says : For those who are devoted to
Him, the Sacred Heart of Jesus has made these promises : "I will be their
secure refuge during life, and above all in death . . .Sinners shall find in My
Heart the source and infinite ocean of mercy. . .Those who shall promote thi
s devotion shall have their names written in My Heart, never to be blotted
out . . . .”
Cavanna’s conclusions

This then is the answer to all the enemies of the Church and to all those that
would deny the return of the Hero of Bagumbayan to the faith in which he
was born and bred. He did return, and that is the fact, and this is the
explanation. And no act of his life was performed for loftier motives and
with clearer light. This is his unfading glory, here and hereafter.
THANK YOU!