Rizal's Retraction Controversy Quiz

Rizal's Retraction Controversy

• Rizal's alleged retraction, published in Spanish newspapers on December 30 and 31, 1896, was a declaration stating his conversion to Catholicism and renouncing views contrary to the Catholic Church.
• The retraction also condemned Masonry.
• Four versions of the retraction have surfaced. 
  • One was published on Dec 30, 1896 in La Voz Española and Diaro de Manila.
  • Another appeared in El Imparcial on Dec 31, 1896; this was a shorter version.
  • A third text, from an anonymous author (later revealed as Fr. Balaguer), was published in La Juventud in Barcelona on February 14, 1897.
  • An alleged "original" text, discovered by Fr. Manuel Garcia in 1935 in the archdiocesan archives, had been missing for 39 years.

Analysis of Document Authenticity

• The textual differences between various purported versions of the retraction cast doubt on its authenticity.
• Jesuit copies, compared to newspaper versions and Fr. Balaguer's, show differences in wording, omissions, and phrasing, particularly regarding the use of "mi cualidad" versus "mi calidad", the presence of "Catolica," the use of "misma," and differences in paragraphing.
• Fr. Balaguer's testimony, though providing witnesses to Rizal's retraction, contradicts itself regarding how he obtained the alleged "exact" copy, and how it was delivered.
• Earlier accounts by Balaguer conflict with the specifics of this later testimony. He initially gave different accounts of how he obtained a retraction document, and how exactly he got it from Rizal.
• Balaguer's own declaration indicates the document may not have been directly from Rizal, or even entirely composed as a direct statement from Rizal. It was described as an "exact copy" of the retraction, though it was written or composed by someone else, or even written by Rizal.
• Araneta's analysis explores the possibility of intentional forgeries and manipulation of the retraction document. She raises questions about its origins.

Further Forgeries

• The article by Araneta mentions at least six more forged retractions that surfaced between Rizal's execution and the 1960s.
• These were photostat copies, pamphlets or facsimiles.
• There is no verifiable original or existing copy of the retraction document.

Rizal's Last Moments

• Josephine Bracken and Josefa Rizal visited Rizal on the morning of his execution.
• Accounts indicate the couple had a final married embrace that morning.
• Rizal gave Josephine a book on imitating Christ. Rizal inscribed the book to Josephine.