By Erma Edera
To commemorate Dr. Jose Rizal’s 123rd death anniversary, the National Museum has opened for public viewing the national hero’s personal copy of De La Imitacion de Cristo y Menoscprecio del Mundo (The Imitation of Christ), a Christian devotional book.
(Photo Courtesy of National Museum)
According to the National Museum, Rizal gave this book to his wife Josephine Bracken before his execution in Luneta on December 30, 1896.
The book which is more than a century old, also revealed the nature of their relationship after Rizal left a handwritten note for his wife, which read: “To my dear and unhappy wife, Josephine Bracken.”
The page is only shown during two occasions in the year for conservation—around Rizal’s birthday (June 19) and Rizal’s death anniversary (December 30).
The German monk and scholar Thomas à Kempis (ca. 1380-1471) wrote the Christian devotional book and has been translated into over 50 languages.
The National Museum said the book is available for public viewing from December 26 to 29, 2019 and January 2 to 5, 2020.