LESSON 11

THE RIZAL RETRACTION

THE MAFIA CUTIEEE

HISTORICAL CONTENT
A LEADER OF THE REFORMIST MOVEMENT IN SPAIN, DR. JOSE RIZAL WAS
ARRESTED, TRIED, AND SENTENCED TO DEATH BY A SPANISH COURT MARTIAL
AFTER BEING IMPLICATED AS A LEADER OF THE PHILIPPINE REVOLUTION. THE
NIGHT BEFORE HIS DEATH BY FIRING SQUAD AT THE LUNETA ON DECEMBER 30,
1896, ACCOUNTS EXIST THAT RIZAL ALEGEDLY RERRACTED HIS MASONIC IDEALS
AND HIS WRITINGS AND RECONYERTED TO CATHOLICISM FOLLOWING SEVERAL
HOURS OF PERSUASION BY JESUIT PRIESTS. THERE WAS CONSIDERABLE DOUBT
TO THIS ALLEGATION BY RIZAL'S FAMILY AND FRIENDS UNTIL IN 1935, THE
SUPPOSED RETRACTION DOCUMENT WITH RIZAL'S SIGNATURE WAS FOUND.
Until today, the issue whether Rizal retracted or not and whether
the document Is forged or real is a subject of continuous debate
between historians and Rizal scholars alike.

The following primary sources are of two kinds: the

first two are the official accounts as witnessed by the
Jesuits who were instrumental in the alleged retraction of
Rizal. The other two are critical analyses by two Rizalist
scholars who doubted the story of the retraction.
 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

At about ten o'clock in the morning (December 29), Father VilaClara ad I

went to Fort Santiago, where the chapel cell of the convict was. He received us
with great affection and embraced us. I think it convenient to point out that when
the Archbishop sent bis commission to the Ateneo, he remarked that, in case of
conversion, before ministering the Sacraments to him, Dr. Rizal should make a
retraction of errors publicly professed to him in words and writings and a
profession of the Catholic faith. To this effect, when the Father Superior of the
Mission went io the Archbishop's Palace, be brought by way of precaution a
retraction and profession of faith, concise, but including what he thought Out to be
extracted from Dr. Rizal. The Prelate read it, and
declared it to be sufficient. He said, however, that be would prepare or order to prepare another
more extensive one.

Before going to the Fort, I went to the Palace in order to receive orders and instructions from
the Prelate. The Archbishop gave me the formula bf retraction and profession of faith, composed
by Reverend father Pio Pi..

Therefore, when we, the two Fathers, met him in the chapel, after exchanging greetings with
him and talking on various matters, I, who knew the history and errors contained in his books, in
order to fulfill our delicate mission asked Rizal to give an explanation of bis ideas on religion... He
came to say more or less explicitly that his Tule of faith was the word of God contained in the
Sacred Scripture. I tried to make him see how false and indefensible such a criterion was in as
much as without the authority to the Church be could not be sure of the authenticity of the Hob
Scripture of the books truly revealed by God how absolutely impossible it is for the individual
reason to metrete at bis tell the word of God. Then be declared himself openly a rationalist
freethinker, unwell to admit any other criterion of truth than individual reason.
 I then pointed out to him that absurdity of rationalism for the lack of
instruction of the immense majority of humankind, and for the absurd
monstrous errors professed by the greatest sages of
paganism.....When I attacked hm with the arguments of Catholic
doctrine, be began to expound the objections of the heretics and
rationalists, a thousand times refuted already..... When I attacked him
with the logic and evidence of Catholic truth, I told him will energy that
if he did not yield bis mind and bis reason for the sake of faith, he
would soon appear for judgment before God and would surely be
damned. Upon bearing this threat,
tears gushed from his eyes, and he said: "No I will 1ot damn myself

Yes, I replied You will go to hell, for, whether you like it or not. Yes; out of the
Catholic Church there is no salvation Truth is and cannot be but one."..

At three o'clock or a little past three, I returned to the Royal Fort where Father
Vilaclara had remained, and I resumed the discussion with Dr Rizal, that lasted
until dusk, arriving at the point which I have already indicated. Then I went to the
Ateneo and thence l went with Father Viza to the Palace. There I reported on the
condition of the convict, who offered some hope for conversion, since he had
asked for the formula of retraction Hence I requested the Prelate for the formula he
had promised, ai be told me that il was rot yet finished. Soon be would send it to
me.
 It was already night when I arrived at the Fort. I found Dr Rizal
impatient. He asked for the formula of the Prelate. This came at last, at
about ten o'clock; upon knowing it, the convict asked me for it
insistently. Without letting me read it first, be called and asked me to
read it to him.

Both of us sat at a desk, where there was stationery and I began to

read it. Upon bearing the first paragraph, he told me: Father, do not
proceed. That style is different from mine. I cannot sign that, because it
should be understood that I am writing it myself
 I brought out then the shorter and more concise formula of Father
Pi. I read the first paragraph and he said to me: That style is simple as
mine. Don't bother, Father, to read it all Dictate what I ought to profess
and express, and I shall write, making in any Case some remarks.

And thus it was done. As I suggested the idea, he proceeded to write

with steady band and clear letters, making at times some observation
or adding some phrase. Certain after the discussion , Dr. Rizal was
yielding to the impulse of grace, since he had retired into himself and
prayed as he bad promised. Thus he appeared to be while writing bis
retraction .
He finished the writing, 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

Senor Fresno, Chief of the Picket, and Señor Moure, Adjutant of the
Plaza..

After all these acts,... he knelt down of his own accord before the
altar of the Virgin, placed in the chapel cell. In the presence of the
Fathers, of the Judge Advocate, of the Chief of the Picket, of the
Adjutant of the Plaza, of three artillery officers Rizal asked me for bis
retraction and profession of faith. He proceeded to read it with pause
and devotion.
 Of all that bas been narrated, I am positive by personal knowledge
have personally intervened and witnessed it myself: and I subscribe
and confirm it with an oath. And lest, herbals someone may think that I
could not remember it with so many details, after twenty years, I testify
that on the very day of Rizal's death I wrote a very detailed account of
everything pe origin mal of this account I have preserved, and from it I
have taken all the data of the present narration.

Before Rizal reached Bagumbayan, I went to the Ateneo and

delivered the aforementioned document to Father Pio Ph who that very
day brought it to the Palace and handed it o Archbishop Nozaleda.
Fr. Pio Pi  Father Pio Pi Y Vidal, S. J.

Superior of the Jesuits in the Philippines in 1896  Issued an affidavit about his involvement to Rizal’s
Retraction. Published the account that he made in Manila in 1909 La Muerte Cristianadel Doctor Rizal.
Confirmed his account in a Notarial Act signed in Barcelona, April 7, 1917  His shorter document was
accepted by Father Vicente Balaguer.

Fr. Pio Pi’s Statements

The fathers in the chapel received a letter for them to accept and took care of Dr. Rizal who is
considered a convict back. The fathers followed what is written in the letter not because they are
from the higher office but because they want to save the soul of Dr. Rizal who is their most eminent
and beloved pupil. Father Pio Pi hasn’t visited nor talk to Dr. Rizal while he was staying in the
chapel before accompanying him by the other fathers to the Bagumbayan. The Bagumbayan is the
place of execution of Rizal. Dr. Rizal had a long and very meaningful conversation with Father
Balaguer. Rizal surrendered willingly and completely to his faith with the lord and the Christian
sentiments
 When the retraction was about to be started, there have been a conflict
between rather Balaguer and Archbishop about the composition that they have
made. Father Balaguer wrote the modification by his hand and signed beneath
Rizal’s signature, chief of the Picket, Juan del Fresno and the Adjutant of the plaza,
Eloy Moure who was the Witness. Rizal took the document by his hand and knelt
down the altar of the chapel. Father Pio did not know Rizal and did not come to see
him when he was on their Church, but he knew what was happening and the
proceedings of Rizal's execution through his fellow Fathers. Regarding the conflicts
conversation from his anti-Catholic ideas, the Jesuit priests were able to persuade
him very easily, and so Rizal surrendered willingly and completely to the faith again.
He copied and modified his own retraction document and signed it together with the
two witnessed. After that, Dr. Rizal went to the altar and knelt down and read this
document aloud.
Rafael Palma's Critical Analysis (Rafael Palma y Velásquez)

He is a lawyer, writer, educator, and politician. - Author of Biografia

de Rizal, a work on the life of the National Hero which won a literary
contest in 1938 sponsored by the Commonwealth Government. - The
publication of the book, however, was postponed because of World
War II and only saw print in 1949. - The same year, an English
translation by Roman Ozaeta with the title Pride of the Malay Race
was published by Prentice-Hall, Inc, in the United States. - The story of
Rizal's alleged retraction is found in Chapters 32 and 33 with Palma's
analysis in the latter chapter.
Rafael Palma's Analysis ACCORDING RAFAEL PALMA'S ANALYSIS THE RETRACTION OF RIZAL IS A
HEARSAY WITH THE FOLLOWING REASONS:

The document of retraction was kept secret. Petitions were denied after the Rizal's
family asked for the origal or copy of the retraction document as well as the
marriage certificate with Josephine Bracken. Rizal's burial was kept secret. No
masses were held or funeral held by the Catholics on the death of Rizal. He was
not buried in the Catholic cemetery in Paco. The entry of in the book burials of the
interment of Rizal's body is not made on the page with those buried on December
30, 1896. There was no moral motive for the conversion.

“Analysis of Palma shows that Rizal's retraction was a pious fraud and hearsay.
Rizal loves his country and is willing to die for it. His bravery that cost him his life
gave the Filipinos the freedom that we now have."
AUSTIN COATES CRITICAL ANALYSIS

Austin Coates
• Assistant Collonial Secretary and Magistrate in Hong Kong in 1950
• First study on Rizal was in Hong Kong (1891-1892)
• Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr (1956)
• Second edition of the book was published in the Philippines by Solidaridad Publishing House in 1992
• First Rizal biography was Vida y Escritos del. Dr. Jose Rizal by Wenceslao Retana in 1907

Rizal retraction and other event that happened before his execution are found in Part VII, Chapter 5 of the book.
THE ANALYSIS

Rizal had retracted his religious errors, adjured freemasonry, and in the last hours of his life had
married Josephine Bracken. In most newspaper the text of a letter of retraction supposedly written
by Rizal was printed in full. Those who had read Rizal's books or who knew him closely which at that
time meant the family and his wide circle of personal friends, most of whom were abroad, took one
look at the announce and dubbed it, ecclesiastical fraud. While unquestionably a fraud however to
suggest that the Archbishop's announcement was issued knowingly, or that there was a plot among
the higher ecclesiastical authorities to perpetrate a fraud is going too far. It was the friars - who
wanted his retraction. But while in the event Rizal's intuition did not play him false, there in no
evidence to implicate Nozareda. Along came a small man with what Archbishop wanted. The
Archbishop was waiting for a retraction, hoping for it. Certainly there was no signed letter of
retraction. Rizal knew too well the damage such a letter would do him, besides which he believed
before God he had nothing to retract.