Summary
Highlights
A new document, not from a priest but from the 'Guagana' or 'devil documents' (spy documents), details a report filed on December 30, 1896, the day Rizal died. This primary source suggests Rizal signed a retraction and married Josephine Bracken.
Freemasonry is a fraternity, not a religious vocation, believing in a divine 'supreme architect' and promoting free thinking and inclusivity. This contrasts sharply with the defined doctrines of the Catholic Church, leading to an indirect 'battle royale' between the two, especially during the time of Spanish liberalism and the Philippine enlightenment. Freemasonry offered an alternative to the Catholicism of the friars.
Historically, the Catholic Church held that there is no salvation outside of it. More recently, Pope Francis reiterated that being both a Catholic and a Mason is a contradiction. The implications of this for Catholic Masons are unclear, as there's no mention of excommunication, but rather a strong reminder of the incompatibility.
The new document from the Guavia Civil, reportedly a spy document, further supports the claim that Rizal retracted against Freemasonry and was married to Josephine Bracken in a ceremony before his execution. The presentation of a prayer book, "The Imitation of Christ" by Thomas à Kempis, to Josephine, inscribed 'to my dear and happy wife Josephine' on December 30, 1896, serves as strong evidence of their marriage and Rizal's reconciliation with Catholic beliefs.
Rizal had conflicts with the friars and questioned aspects like purgatory, being a deist. He believed in God as the creator and ultimate judge, present at the beginning and end, but not actively intervening in daily human affairs. This differs from the Catholic belief of an ever-present, guiding God. His gift of a Catholic book suggests a shift towards Catholic devotion, potentially influenced by his desire to marry Josephine.