RIZAL, MASONRY AND RIZALISTAS

Rizal Religion
What is religion?
Bond between God and Man
A belief system which characterize by the
existence of a supernatural/ higher being
or a creator
Characteristics of religion: prayer,
sacrifice, reverence, divination, taboo,
duty, ritual, ceremony, magic, and sacred
objects.
Importance of Religion
Religion is the greatest source of
human consolation
Integrates personality of
individuals
Religion develops social cohesion
and group solidarity
Religion makes a person
conscious of his limitation and
potentialities
The Catholic in Rizal
The family was devout Catholic
He was baptized in St. John
Baptist Church in Calamba.
Rizal was taught how to pray the
rosary and done novenas
The family placed high regard
about religion and the good
values.
Rizal was sent to Catholic schools
to mold his character. (UST and
Ateneo Municipal)
Jose Rizal never forgets to attend
church mass and activities even
when he was abroad.
He visited religious sites and
practiced religious tradition.
Rizal in Europe
His travels in Europe exposed him
to a lot experiences more than the
religion he professed
It gives him a better perspective
about the conditions of his
fellowmen in the Philippines.
Modern Education in Madrid
made a better person out of Rizal
Intellectual Enlightenment
Religious Works of Jose Rizal
Unfinished manuscripts (a) The
Friars and the Filipinos and (b) The
State of Religiosity of the People in
the Philippines.
Other Works included the novels
(Noli and Fili), La Vision Fray
Rodriguez, Letters to Pastells,
poems and plays about religion.
Sculpture – Sacred Heart of Jesus
made from batikuling a kind of
wood used for sculpting.
Masonry
1390 – Regius Manuscript
described the rules of conduct and
morality by which stonemasons
were expected to live.
1495 – first public and official
appearance of the freemasons
Origin
17th Century - lodges in Scotland
and England started to accept
members called Speculative
Masons
1717 – The Grand Lodge of
England made freemasonry
popular
Elizabeth Aldworth was the first
woman freemason, accepted in 18th
century in the Irish Lodge
Symbols of Freemasons
A. Square and compass – use in the
execution of their work
Square – the square was used to
ensure the angles in stone were on
the square as they were worked and
placed in position
Compass- represents the world of
the abstract
B. The letter “G” – stands for God,
freemasons being required to
believe in a Supreme Being.
Sometimes it is represented by a star
or an eye.
C. All-seeing eye – represents to the
belief that God can see into the
hearts of men.
D. The Triangle – represents the
Holy Trinity – Father, Son, Holy
Spirit
E. Apron – reminder of the masons
ancient craft, they wore apron to
store tools and protect their
clothing.
F. Trowel – represents fraternal love
G. Chisel – symbolizes perfection
H. The Level – stands for equality
I. Hammer – chipped away rough
edges
J. 24 inch gauge – reminding the
masons of the hours of a day
K. Plumb – symbolizing the
upstanding nature of masonic
philosophy.
Rizal and Freemasonry
Masonry is a world fraternal Early Influences
organization of men with liberal Jose Alberto Alonso
orientation. Paciano Rizal
Aims: brotherly love, relief, and Influences in Europe
truth Miguel Morayta
Lessons: Freedom of speech, Ilustrados
religion, political opinion and He joined Acacia Lodge No. 9 his first
resistance to any form of tyranny. masonic organization under Gran
Advocacies: Separation of the Oriente de España.
Church and the State and Free He was conferred the degree of Master
public education. Mason
Rizal in his masonic regalia
Retraction Controversy
The Texts of Rizal’s Retraction discovered by Fr. Manuel Garcia, C.M. (May 18, 1935)

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 profess whatever She teaches and I
submit to whatever she demands. I abominate Masonry, as the enemy which is of 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.
December 29, 1896
Manila
Rizalistas
 Widespread admiration for Dr. Jose Rizal led to the founding of different
organizations and sects in honor of the national hero
 Some of which (Knights of Rizal/ Caballeros de Rizal) for the upper class
society.
 Rizalista groups for the masses and made Rizal not only a hero but also
God like Jesus.
 He was known as the Tagalog Christ (Kristong Tagalog) in Southern
Luzon.
Cult – veneration/ worship to a person or a thing.
Sect – denomination or organized religious body having its distinctive
name and its own places of worship.
In 1903, the Iglesia Filipina Independiente (IFI) canonized GOMBURZA
and Jose Rizal as saints.
Millenarian Movement – the second coming of Christ
Samahang Rizalistas
Sambahang Rizal
 Cuyapo, Nueva Ecija in 1918
 Founder was Basilio Aromin
 7,000 members
 Central belief: Rizal was appointed by Bathala to redeem his race and
people.
Bathalismo
 San Leonardo, Nueva Ecija in 1948
 The sect’s name came from Bathala “God”
 Founder was Venancio Wagan
 Central belief: In 1861, Christ was reincarnated through Jose Rizal
 Membership spread in Quezon, Batangas, Arayat, Pampanga
Adarnistas (Iglesiang Pilipina)
 Established in La Union in 1907 by a widow named Candida Balantac
 She was known as the Enchanted One or “Inang Adarna”
 Bongabon, Nueva Ecija
 Central belief: Rizal is God of the Filipino people; Rizal was true man
and God; Rizal was not executed.
 Four Persons in one God: God the Father, God the Son, God the Holy
Ghost, God the Mother the Virgin Mary
 Membership reached as many as 20,000 in Central Luzon, Pangasinan,
Nueva Vizcaya, Ilocos Sur and Manila.
 Kaama-amahan ng Ama at Kaina-inahan ng Ina, Inc.
Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi (IWL)
 Founded in 1914 in Masbate by Jose Rizal Himself and transferred later on
in Lecheria in Calamba, Laguna (1936)
 “Holy Voice”
 Aims: To love God above all things
To love one’s fellowman as one loves himself
To love the Motherland and to respect and venerate the heroes of the race.
Beliefs of IWL
Based on the commands of the Holy Moses, Our Lord Jesus Christ and
of the teachings of Jose Rizal culled from his writings.
Trinity: God – Moses, Son – Jesus Christ, Holy Ghost – Dr. Jose Rizal
Jesus Christ is embodied in Jose Rizal and hence, Rizal is at once a God
and a man.
Rizal is not dead – New Jerusalem (Mt. Makiling to Mt. Banahaw)
Voice of Rizal commands the members.
There will be a Third World War, but after the war, Rizal will make an
appearance and lead the army of God.
There is a particular judgment which is 3 days after death and a final
judgment when all creatures will be judged.
Place of Worship
Similar to a Catholic church
Main altar and the image of the Risen
Christ
A bigger statue of Rizal with a winged
angel hovering over him.
There are two side altars in the church
Right side altar – crucifix, picture of the
Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Statue of
the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Left side altar – Statue of the Our lady of
the Miraculous Medal St. Therese and
the Immaculate Heart of Mary
Wall of the Church – Stations of the Cross
Luis Fabregar – Supreme Bishop of the
Sect
Sacraments
Similar to the Roman Catholic
1.Baptism – for infants, for adult converts “sworn in” before God
2.Confirmation – Fabregar and other bishop
3.Matrimony
4.Extreme unction
5.There is no Holy Communion
6.Follows a Catholic Mass
7.There is no confession in the sect.
Membership: 100,000 in the entire archipelago
 Central to their belief is that Jose
Rizal is the reincarnation of
Christ.
 Calamba and Luneta were
considered as sacred sites
 Mt. Makiling was also considered
as the haven where Rizal hide after
the Bagumbayan execution
 The belief that Rizal never died in
Bagumbayan.
 Found in their altar the copies of
his writings and other relics.
 December 30 is the central day of
observance.
What’s in the name JOSE RIZAL?
In Latin, Jose Rizal is Jove, Rex, and Al
It means: Jove – sacred name of God, Rex – king, and Al – all.
Literally translated as King of Kings which refers to Jesus Christ.
KILUSANG RIZALISTA
Iglesia Watawat ng Lahi
Philippine Benevolent Missionary Association
Sagrada ng Lahi
Sagrada Familia
Bathalismo
Adarnista
Kapatiran Ang Likas na Katalinuhan (KALK)
Lapiang Malaya
Central Teaching
Doctrina ng Tatlong Jota (Trinity) – Dios Ama – Jehovah, Dios Anak –
Jesus at Dios Espiritu Santo – Jose
Rizal’s beliefs were embedded in the character traits of the Rizalistas:
(1) Maka-Diyos; (2) Makatao; (3) Makabayan.
Jose Rizal in their belief was the reincarnation of Christ
Sources:
Dimasalang by Reynold S. Fajardo
Larangan: Seminal Essays on Philippine Culture by Dr. Prospero Covar
Philippine Masonry by Teodoro M. Kalaw
The Secrets of the Freemasons by Pat Morgan