Prior to the official preliminary sessions and reports of the 11th Intermediate Provincial Chapter, the capitular friars gathered for a recollection in the morning of February 23, 2026, guided by Fr. Romeo Ben Potencio, OAR, Vice President for Academics and Research of the University of Negros Occidental – Recoletos.

Anchored on the theme “Between the Lion and the Serpent: An Augustinian Reflection on the Woundedness of Consecrated Life,” the recollection invited the friars to examine the present realities confronting religious life with honesty and hope.

𝘉𝘦𝘵𝘸𝘦𝘦𝘯 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘓𝘪𝘰𝘯 𝘢𝘯𝘥 𝘵𝘩𝘦 𝘚𝘦𝘳𝘱𝘦𝘯𝘵

Fr. Potencio described two realities that beset human and Christian life:

1. Open persecution – the Lion

The lion represents visible and external difficulties: tensions within communities, challenges in the apostolate, criticisms, failures, and structural struggles.

2. Veiled persecution – the Serpent

More dangerous is the subtle attack of the serpent: interior distortions, compromised motivations, mediocrity, and spiritual complacency.

The devil rejoices, he said, not merely when we suffer, but when the mind is spoiled, when clarity, conviction, and interior unity are eroded.

Drawing from Augustine of Hippo, the friars were reminded of the need for a strong conviction to fight both lion and serpent. And if martyrdom of blood is not asked of us, then at least “die in your desire”—die to ego, self-will, and disordered attachments.

𝘛𝘩𝘦 𝘔𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘶𝘮 𝘝𝘰𝘵𝘶𝘮

At the heart of Augustinian life remains the 𝘮𝘢𝘨𝘯𝘶𝘮 𝘷𝘰𝘵𝘶𝘮: the great vow of charity.

Between the lion of external trials and the serpent of interior compromise, the call is not fear, but fidelity. Not image, but integration. Not isolation, but communion.

The recollection left the friars with a sobering yet hopeful realization: consecrated life may bleed, but it is not without remedy; for grace integrates, prayer sustains, and charity binds hearts together in God.