Retraction

• Jose Rizal - exerted much of his lifework in the creation of his controversial works such as the Noli Me Tangere and El Filibusterismo which not only maligned Catholic religion, but the friars, who were the stewards of injustice during the Spanish colonization of our country
• Retraction of Rizal


  Refers to the controversy surrounding Jose Rizal's alleged retraction of his anti-Catholic views before his execution in 1896, with historians and scholars divided on its authenticity.
• Masonic Rizalists


  A group of scholars and historians who believe that Rizal did not retract his anti-Catholic views.
• Catholic Rizalists


  A group of scholars and historians who are convinced that Rizal did retract his anti-Catholic views.
• Fr. Vicente Balaguer


  A Jesuit missionary who befriended Rizal during his exile in Dapitan and who allegedly visited Rizal in his prison cell before his execution, attempting to persuade him to retract his views.
• Fr. Pio Pi


  The superior of the Jesuit Society in the Philippines who prepared the retraction document that Rizal eventually signed.
• Bracken


  Refers to Josephine Bracken, Rizal's common-law wife.
• Dapitan


  A place where Rizal was exiled, and where he met Fr. Vicente Balaguer.
• Barcelona, Spain


  The place where the second text of Rizal's retraction was published in the fortnightly magazine La Juventud
• Dec. 30, 1896


  The date of Rizal's execution and the publication of the first text of his retraction in La Voz Española and Diaro de Manila.
• Feb 14, 1897

  The date when the second text of Rizal's retraction was published in Barcelona, Spain.
• Rizal's Family


  Refers to Jose Rizal's relatives, who disputed his marriage due to the lack of records, despite attestations by Bracken and the officiating priest.
• Father Obach


  A priest who prepared Rizal's retraction document and witnessed his signature.
• Bishop of Cebu


  The bishop to whom Father Obach sent Rizal's retraction document for approval.
• Father Manuel Garcia, C.M.


  An archdeacon archivist who allegedly discovered a document substantiating Rizal's retraction on May 12, 1935.
• Fr. Luis Viza


  A Jesuit priest who visited Rizal in his prison cell.
• Sacred Heart of Jesus


  A religious symbol believed to have played a significant role in Rizal's final hours, as he requested it from Father Viza.
• Retraction Document - It heavily damages Rizal's prominent image as a Filipino revolutionary
• The Retraction of Rizal was claimed to be handwritten by Rizal himself and signed moments before his death at Bagumbayan in 1896.
• According to Father Pio Pi's claim, a Spanish Jesuit, the copied document was published in Spain as early as 1907
• “The Great Debate: The Rizal Retraction,” Ricardo P. Garcia provided several pieces of evidence siding and against Rizal‟s retraction
• Retraction letter has been the subject of much controversy and debate among historians and scholars due to its implications on Rizal’s stand against the Spanish friars
• First Text: Dec. 30, 1896, Rizal’s execution: published in La Voz Española and Diaro de Manila

  fact: Only publishers of La Voz Espanola seen the og text
• Second Text: Feb 14, 1897 ; Barcelona Spain published in the fortnightly magazine in La Juventud

  ;writer is annon after 14 years, Fr. Balaguer revealed himself
• Original Text: May 18, 1935 ; Archdiocesan Archives, 39 years after Rizal execution
• Disputed – authenticity of retraction letter despite of existing documents.
• Rizal hesitated before signing the retraction because he wanted to write it himself
• Rizal initially declared himself a rationalist freethinker, unwilling to admit any other criterion of truth than individual reason
• Balaguer tried to convince Rizal of the errors of rationalism and the truth of Catholic doctrine
• Balaguer warned Rizal that if he did not yield his mind and his reason for the sake of faith, he would soon appear for judgment before God and would surely be damned
• Rizal softened a bit when he warned him that his soul would go to hell if he did not return to the Catholic fold.
• Rizal agreed to sign a retraction document prepared by the superior of the Jesuit Society in the Philippines, Father Pio P
• Dec. 1896. - Rizal then wrote his retraction after making some modifications in the document
• Rizal aimed to liberate Filipinos and create a nation free from colonialism
• Bracken – Rizal Marriage – morning of Dec 30, 1896.
• Fr. Balaguer – solemnized the wedding. claim was later substantiated by an affidavit executed in 1917.
• “The Turning Point.” 


  While in Hong Kong Rizal became more convinced that the battle against the Spanish injustices should be fought at home, not abroad nor through the pages of La Solidaridad
• La Liga Filipina, in which however met an untimely death on 1892 upon his exiled to Dapitan
• Rizal exchanged letters with Fr. Pastells on religious matters which were purely personal between the two
• Rizal sent his mother a letter dated January 5, 1893.