Statements of Various Accounts in Rizal's Retraction Fr. Vicente Balaguer · He is a Jesuit priest who said he spoke to urge Rizal to condemn Masonry and return to the Catholic fold. An affidavit executed in 1917 shows that it was he who solemnized Jose Rizal and Josephine Bracken's engagement. Fr. Vicente Balaguer’s Statement · On the 9th of December 1896, Fr. Vilaclara and Fr. Vicente went to Santiago Fort, and Fr. Before ministering the sacraments to him, Vicente conceives that Rizal must make a retraction of errors and a confession of Catholic faith. · It was donated by the Archbishop to Fr. Vicente, Father Pio Pi Pii's formula of retraction and profession of faith His code of religion, according to Rizal, is the word of God that can be seen in the Holy Scriptures. · Rizal declared himself as a rationalist freethinker. · “Father, do not proceed. That style is different from mine. I cannot sign that because it should