Was Jose Rizal a mama’s boy?

Dear mouse,
If you are reading my blog entitled Suplada 3, you would note that it deals with in-laws relationship specifically mother-in-law.

Race, regardless, I read that the wife/mother-in-law relationship is a universal phenomenon that Eve is considered lucky for not having a mother-in-law and the best wishes for a new bride is perceived to be less intense when the husband is an orphan.

Taking note also that my blog humanizing Rizal received many favorable responses and requests to come up with more, I searched for Rizal’s writings that could relate to us how he handled his affair with Josephine Bracken and his beloved mother as well as to his sisters.

Here are excerpts of letters of Rizal to his family which shows that in his effort to make his family accept Miss J or Miss B, he did not fail to mention her in his letters.

1. excerpt of Rizal’s letter introducing Josephine Bracken to his mother

Dapitan, 14 March 1895
Mrs. Teodora Alonso
Manila

My very dear mother,

The bearer of this letter is Miss Josephine Leopoldine Tauffer whom I was on the point of marrying, counting on your consent, of course. On her suggestion, our relations were broken on account of the numerous difficulties on the way. She is almost alone in the world; she has only very distant relatives.

As I am interested in her and it is very possible that she may later decide to join me and as she may be left all alone and abandoned, I beg you to give her hospitality there, treating her as a daughter, until she shall have an opportunity or…

2. excerpt of letter to Narcisa

Dapitan (No date. April 1895?)

Mrs. Narcisa Rizal

My dear sister,

I read your letter yesterday and Miss B. and I thank you very much for your kindness. She above all is grateful to you and Tonino for the hospitality you offer her but for the present we have decided that she should stay here. She cannot send you anything for she has no moment of rest now and although she likes this, she cannot however dry fish or make pickles.

3. except of letter….

to Trinidad Rizal

(This is very interesting since the letter mentioned his mother’s query on about Nelly Boustead. Note the use of daughter-in-law.)

Tell Nanay that that of Europe cannot be. The daughter-in-law from Europe is about to be married, according to what my friends tell me. So that nothing from there.

4. excerpt of letter addressed to his mother
You will receive a small quantity of salted fish prepared by the person who lives at my home. She is good, obedient, and meek. All that we lack is to be married; but, as you yourself say, “It is better to be in the grace of God than married in mortal sin.” Until now we have not quarreled and when I lecture to her, she does not answer back. If you come and live with her, I hope you will get along with her. Moreover, she has nobody else in the world but me. I’m all her kindred.

5. excerpt of letter addressed to Narcisa and the mention about his mother’s gift to Josephine

Dapitan, 12 February 1896

Mrs. María Rizal
Miss Bracken is sending you regards. She says you would not understand her writing.

She thanks Mother very much for the stockings. She says she has nothing now to give in return.

6. excerpt of letter addressed to Trinidad Rizal about his description of
Josephine Bracken.

Dapitan, 15 January 1896

Miss Trinidad Rizal

My dear sister Trining,
If you want to come, I shall be very glad, but think it over well. You know how I live and who are with me. I assure you that you will not find any one here who will seek quarrels; here all live in peace.

If you approve of my present condition, very well. Miss J. is better than her reputation, and since she has been staying with me, her little defects are being corrected. She is meek and obedient, and not hardheaded; besides she has a good heart.

7. An excerpt of the letter of Jose Rizal to Narcisa

25 August 1896

Mrs. Narcisa Rizal

My dear sister,

Yesterday our mother, together with Sra. María, Trining, and Encarnación was here and through them I learned that you are in good health, which pleases me very much.

The object of this letter is to thank you for your kindness in giving hospitality to Josephine. It is a proof of fraternal love that I shall never forget. However, I’m afraid to abuse it, for Josephine is not alone but has with her besides a baby girl, (1) a nurse-maid, and servants, and all this can be a bother to you, to your husband, and other companions in the house.

8. The letter bears no date addressed to the family telling them how he wanted to be buried. His last sentence was about Josephine.

The letter bears no date. (1)

To my family,
….
Bury me in the ground. Place a stone and a cross over it. My name, the date of my birth and of my death. Nothing more. If later you wish to surround my grave with a fence, you can do it. No anniversaries. I prefer Paang Bundok.
Have pity on poor Josephine.

From the writings of Rizal, I (I do not know about you) see that he had so much respect to his mother but he also showed his concern and love for Josephine Bracken. He never stopped making them to accept Josephine in the family.
Writings about Rizal said that the family was against Josephine because she was suspected to be a spy of the Spanish friars.

The Ca t

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