Christianity in Poetry: An Epitome of Christianity

In this time of computer technology when everything seems to go fast, reading the Bible could be seen as boring. So as a sort of incentive and encouragement to reading, I wrote this book, Christianity in Poetry. I hope that it will encourage the readers at the very least to learn more about the essence of Christianity. Poetry is music when read properly with its meter, accent, and rhyme. The sound of these poetic verses will be enjoyed easily and will be engraved in the memory better than a dull, prosaic literature.

United States Army Chaplain (Major) Mansueto T. Calasara Jr., known as Father James to most, was born July 6, 1934, in Tigbauan, Iloilo, Philippines. He was ordained a Catholic priest on March 19, 1961. Fr. James has served two great allied countries, the Philippines and the United States of America, as a soldier, priest, and educator. His assignments have covered a span of more than three centuries.

Fr. James retired from the U.S. Army with the rank of major. When the war in Iraq broke out again in 2002, he was recalled to active duty. Fr. James’ awards include the Army Commendation Medal (two oak leaf cluster), the National Defense Service Medal, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal, Army Service Ribbons, Overseas Ribbons, U.S. Airborne, the Philippine Parachutist Badge, and the Philippine Marine Long Service Medal.

Fr. James owns the El Padre Golf and Country Club and is a member of the United States Golf Teachers Federation. He played the World Golf Teachers Cup at Orange Golf Resort on Nov. 16-19, 2003. Some of the books he has written and published are: The Fighting Priest, Jokes for Everyone (two volumes), and The Holy Land Memories of a Pilgrim.