Manila Papers

1. Diario de manila, Dec. 30, 1896

The convict, in the chapel, was assisted by Fathers Jose Vilaclara and
Estnislo March of the Society of Jesus, and showed during thewhole night his
sincere repentance . He wrote with his own handwriting the following
retraction
2. La Voz Espaola, Dec. 30,1896, reported

Rizal, the Protesttant, the heretic Rizal, has been reconciled ata the last
hour with the Catholic religionStill more; we have seen and read his own
handwritten retraction which he sent to our dear and venerable
Archbishop, of which the followingis a literal copy.

3. El Espaol, Dec. 30, 1896

God, in his infinite mercy, we believe has received the soul of the convict
who has shown his repentancewhen entering the chapel (of his prison cell)
he requested to be allowed to call of Father Saderra of the Society of Jesus,
who accompanied by Father Rosell, assisted him spiritually
Dec. 31, 1896
here is the retraction made by Rizal when he was already in the
chapel which we did not publish yesterday for obvious reasons.
4. El Comercio, Dec. 30,1896
The convict arrived in the company of Reverend fathers Estanislo
March nd Jose Vilaclara, of the Society of Jesus, who at his request
have remained with him in the chapel (of his prison cell) since
yesterday.
5. La Oceania Espaola Dec. 31, 1896
The Jesuit Fathers, Estanislao March and Jose Vilaclara assisted the convict
in the chapel (of his prison cell) and before them and two witnesses, officers
of the army, he wrote and signed the night before lst the following retraction
(Here is a copy of the text of the retraction)

Madrid Papers

1. El Imparcial, Dec. 31, 1896, published the long cable sent to Madrid by its
Manila correspondent, Don Manuel Alhama
By cable.
Direct Telgram From our associated correspondent.
Manila 29 6:50 afternoon. Received the 30, 15 morning
..Soon after, Rizal entered the chapel, two famous Jesuits went to visit him,
Fr. Vilaclara and Fr. Federico Faura. The first is the Director of the higher
studies of the Society of Jesus, and the second, the illustrious man of science
who directs the Astronomical Observatory of Manila. Both Jesuits had been
Rizals professors. When Rizal saw Father Faura, he ran into his arms crying.
 Then he conversed for a long time with Fr. Vilaclara. The two priests tried to
persuade Rizal to put down his rancors and to turn his eyes to heaven. They
brought an image of the Virgin which is in the College of the Society and to
which Rizal had the great devotion in his boyhood. The image remained
exposed in the chapel. The convict refused to say anything about the
conspiracy and about the Masonry. He made a testament, holograph, giving
the Defense Counsel as a gift a pin he had with him. The news that Rizal will
be executed within some hours has been spread everywhere, causing a great
impression. The police got some indications that the family of Rizal is trying
to stir up the rabbles of the districts of Tondo and Trozo in oreer to produce an
uproar that may hinder the execution. The society has taken precautions to
prevent any commotion. Rizals relatives have asked that his corpse be
delivered to them. The request hs been denie so as to prevent the body of
the agitator from becoming the object of public demonstrations
Dec. 31
Another Telegram from Don Manauel Alhama
The Abjuration
Protests of Catholicism
LBy cable.
Direct Telegram from our associated correspondent
Manila 30 6:45 afternoon. Received the 30, 10 night
Notwithstanding the conversations of the famous Jesuit Fatshers, Faura and
Vilaclara with Rizal in the chapel (of the prison) the convict continued to
refuse to confess and remained obstinate in his philosophical and political
theories. Afterwrds, Father Faura talked again with him and said to him, Be
sure, Rizal, that we, who have been your teches, we alone have not
decievedyou. Repent while there is time. We shall console you,. Remember,
when you were in our house, you were wont to pray before that image of the
Sacred Heart which you yourself had carved. Ask Him, He will save you.
Rizal, filled with emotion, vacillated and, after remaining some moments in
silence, told Father Faura that he wished to confess.. Afterwards, a strange
reaction was wroughtin Rizal. He asked for pape and pen, and wrote down
some verses. Then, conversing with those around hm, he said: My talks
with learned Spaniards have made me a filibuster, because they have made
me desir the independence of my country. When I was in Marid, the
Republcans were telling me that lbertiesare sought with bullets, and not by
kneeling down. Truly, these deas aroused in my soul, are the authors of my
work. My only sin is that of pride. I believed I was to do something very
great without having the fitness for i. Until the moment of execution, he
repeated again and again this fixzed idea that his pride w the cause of his
perdition He signed with sevral military witnesesretraction of his religious
errors that says.

2. Heraldo de Madrid Dec. 30, 1896

 Published the following which we copy from the telegram sent by its
Manila correspondent Don Santiago mataix
The Jesuits and the Dean of the Cathedral rendered im spiritual
assistance. Rizal appears contrite although relatively serene
Having made a solemn abjuration of his errors Rizal has been
reconciled with the Church.
He has sgned a solemn retraction of masonry, professing his faith in
the true religion.
3. El Siglo Futuro, Jan 13, 1933
Our Manila correspondent, Don Felix Murugarren, who at the time of
Jose Rizals execution made a detailed informative account of those
events; and who at present is residing in Madrid, has reminded us
concerning whathas been written on these dys about those incidents,
how El Siglo Futuro w then the Spanish paper that published an
extensive cable sent by him, which contained the text of the retraction
formula made by the unfortunate Rizal.
And thus it was indeed. And the relation of the fervent act of
Doctor Rizal, on the eve of the death which he faced with a much
resignation as courage, came to the hands of Seor Murugrren through
Rizals sister and at the request of the convict himself.

Newspapers

1. La Juventud Vbarcelona, Spain

Published series of articles Jan. 15, 31 and feb. 4, 1897 entitled, Rizal y su
Obra wherein the

authentic account written by Fr. Vicente Balaguer, S.J. and sent to the
editor Don Manuel

Garcia Barzanallana was included.

2. La Politica de Espaa de Filipinas, a fortnightly review directed and

managed by Don Wenceslao Retana and exclusively devoted to the affairs
of Spain in the Philippines. The issue No. 15, Year VII corresponding to Feb
28, 1897 on pp. 84-86 published under the heading ABDURACIONES,
THE RETRACTIONS OF Francisco L. Roxas, Ramon A. Padilla, Luis Enciso
Villareal, Faustino Villaruel y Zapanta, Moises E. Salvador, Jose Dizon,
Antonio Salazar, Jeronimo Cristobal Medina, and Antonio Luna y Novicio.
And before all these, the full text of Rizals retraction is placed with the
especial remark not found in the other abjurations: This is an autograph
from the date of issue of La Politica de Esp[aa en Filipinas, we take for
granted that the copies of these abjurations were obtained not from the
Manilapapers, but most probably from the private reports of the especial
correspondent Retana had in the Philippines.
Testimony of Eyewitnesses

1. Rev. Vicente Balaguer, the priest who became Gods instrument in the
conversion and retraction of Rizal (Note: No mention of the name of
Josephine as a condition for the the retraction.Aug. 8, 1917)
- that morning, Fr. Faura went to prison.
-10:00 amVilaclara and Blaguer arrived at Fort Santiago.
-12:00 nn went to the Palace to report the Prelate
-3:00- went back to Fort where Fr. Vilaclara ha remained. During dusk, went to
Ateneo and to the Palace thereafter.
-arrived at the Fort at night
11:30 Rizal signed the retraction letter

-a little before Rizal came out from the chapel, I left in the company of Josephine
Brackencand a sister of Rizal, from whom, after a while, I departed

- The retraction was signed by Dr. Rizal, Seor Fresno, Chief of the Picket and
Seor Moure, Adjutant of the Plaza.
2. Capt. Rafael Dominguezy Garcia, Colonel of sthe Manila Garrison and Judge
Advocate in Rizals Trial, on duty to watch over the convict; all the time he
was in the chapel. (May 30, 1918)
Dec. 29, 1896, 7:00 am
- Rizal was visited by several Jesuit Fathers, Luis Viza, Jose Vilaclara, Vicente
Balaguer, and Faura.. He was also visied by the Civil Governor, the Fiscal of
His Majesty and other personsof rank.
- One oclock, he dined. In the presence of the Jesuit fathers, he asks to get
married and he promises to make his confession. He resists making the
abjuration of masonry.
- He writes letters to Don Fernando Benmantritt (a German) and to his family.
He also writes to his future wife. Rests for a short time.
- At 4:00 pm his mother comes to visit him. Afterwards, Narcisa comes in, bids
him farewell without coming ner.
- Then follows conferences with Fr. Balaguer and Vilaclra.
- 8:00 pm supper
- At about 12:00 he makes his Confession to Fr. Vilaclara