Retraction of Rizal PDF

**RETRACTION OF RIZAL** **What is retraction?** - The Oxford English Dictionary (2018) defines retraction as \"the action or fact of revoking or rescinding a decision, decree, etc which is now admitted to be erroneous or unjustified; an instance of this; a statement of making such a...

**RETRACTION OF RIZAL** **What is retraction?** - The Oxford English Dictionary (2018) defines retraction as \"the action or fact of revoking or rescinding a decision, decree, etc which is now admitted to be erroneous or unjustified; an instance of this; a statement of making such a withdrawal. - Retraction can be defined as \"a statement saying that something you said or wrote at an earlier time is not true or correct\" (Merriam-Webester). **Who is Jose Rizal?** Jose Rizal is identified as a hero of the revolution for his writings that center on ending colonialism and liberating Filipino minds to contribute to creating the Filipino nation. The great volume of Rizal's lifework was committed to this end, particularly the more influential ones, Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo. His essays vilify not the Catholic religion, but the friars, the main agents of injustice in the Philippine society. 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 allegedly retracted. **Rizal's Retraction Retraction Lette**r I declare myself a catholic and in this Religion in which I was born and educated I wish to live and die. I retract with all my heart whatever in my words, writings, publications and conduct has been contrary to my character as son of the Catholic Church. I believe and I confess whatever she teaches and I submit to whatever she demands. I abominate Masonry, as the enemy which is of the Church, and as a Society prohibited by the Church. The Diocesan Prelate may, as the Superior Ecclesiastical Authority, make public this spontaneous manifestation of mine in order to repair the scandal which my acts may have caused and so that God and people may pardon me. Manila 29 of December of 1896 --José Rizal--. **What was the Retraction about?** The intention of Dr. Jose Rizal's retraction letter was to disavow his words, writings and publications against the catholic church and reconverted to Catholicism following several hours of persuasion by Jesuit priests. The letter, dated December 29, 1896, was said to have been signed by the National Hero himself. Rizal allegedly retracted because the church would not allow his marriage to Josephine Bracken unless he retracted his masonic affiliation. **MAIN ISSUE CONCERNING THE RIZAL RETRACTION** - Whether Rizal retracted or not and whether the document if forged or real. **PRO-RETRACTIONIST** 1. **Fr. Vicente Balaguer** Fr. Vicente Balaguer\'s account claims are as follows: - 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. He confidently said that he intervened and witnessed it all and put it to his account. **Fr. Vincente Balaguer's Account:** - According to the account, Rizal accepted a shorter retraction document prepared by the superior of the Jesuit Society in the Philippines, Father Pio Pi. - Rizal then wrote his retraction after making some modifications in the document. In his retraction, he disavow masonry and religious thoughts that oppose catholic belief. - The retraction was signed together with Dr. Rizal by Senor Fresno, Chief of the picket, and Senor Moure, adjutant of the plaza. **2. Fr. Pio Pi** - He was the Jesuit Superior in the Philippines during the time when Rizal was executed. - In 1917, he issued an affidavit recounting his involvement in the alleged retraction of Rizal. - He was involved only in securing the retraction document from the Archbishop of Manila, Bernardino Nozaleda, and writing another shorter retraction document as well, which was the one Rizal allegedly copied. **Fr. Pio Pi Account:** - According to his account, a long discussion with Father Balaguer happened before Rizal willingly surrendered to turn back to Catholicism. - According to Fr. Pio, Rizal rejected the long composition presented by Fr. Balaguer, so that he had to dictate from the short composition of Fr. Pio. Allegedly, Rizal wrote down what was dictated to him but he insisted on adding the phrases \"in which I was born and educated\" and \"Masonry\" as the enemy that is of the Church\". - When Rizal was satisfied with the composition presented by Fr. Balaguer he made some little modifications to make it Rizal\'s own and spontaneous work, then wrote it with Rizal\'s hand and signed it. **3. Fr. Manuel A. Garcia** - An archdiocesan archivist way back in 1935, who claimed that he found the orretraction of Rizal when he was sorting folders and encountered a bundle of document entitled "Masoneria" in which the original retraction of Rizal was found. - He showed it to Archbishop O'Doherty, but the archbishop was not satisfied with the mere document, so he requested **Prof. H. Otlet Beyer** to examine Rizal's supposed handwriting in the document of retraction, Prof Beyer compared it with 150 letters and documents that were written in Rizal's handwriting, he confirmed that it was indeed written by Rizal. **ANTI-RETRACTIONIST** 1. **Rafael Palma** - Lawyer, writer, educator, and politician. The 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. **Rafael Palma's Critical Analysis** According to his analysis, the retraction of Rizal is a hearsay with the following reasons: - The document of the retraction was kept secret. - Petitions were denied after the Rizal\'s family asked for the original copy of the retraction document as well as the marriage certificate with Josephine Bracken. - Rizal\'s burial was kept secret. No masses or funeral were 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. 2. **Austin Coastes** - Analyze Rizal\'s retraction and other events that happened before his execution in the second edition of his book - \'Rizal: Philippine Nationalist and Martyr,' found in Part VII, Chapter 5 of the book. **Austin Coastes' Critical Analysis** - There was no signed letter of retraction because Rizal knew too well the damage such a letter would do him. - It is inconceivable that they would not give him Christian burial which the two Jesuits at the execution didn\'t do. - Rizal\'s family found difficultly to accept the retraction or marriage. They would know if he retracted in his 6 a.m. communication with his mother. - Balaguer made no mention of the last poem that Rizal wrote which is the Mi Ultimo Adios.