Bruno FERRERO: “When we feel needed we begin to live”

Lviv publishing house “Svichado” presented to its readers a new collection of Father Bruno Ferrero’s parables, 365 Short Stories for the Soul. The author of the book came to the launch at the invitation of the publishing house. When I first read the parables of the Italian Salesian Father Bruno Ferrero, I realized how versatile creative work can be in its purpose. And after talking to him in person, I saw how diverse this world can be because of existence of such people. Father Ferrero is an outstanding personality. He is very popular with children. They sometimes call him a superman (especially when Father puts on a cassock of a bright color) and always surround him hoping to hear a new interesting story during his preaching. The priest also recommends everyone to smile often. But we won’t be telling you everything right now. Let’s just keep on reading.

Father Ferrero, please tell us about the origins of your creative work?

“Why did I start writing? Today people need to hear something extraordinary because sometimes the words of Church are rather boring. Jesus communicates with people through parables. And these little stories of catechesis truly bring you closer to spiritual things. What concerns writing parables, I would not have started writing if it was not something I needed for myself.”

How, in fact, do you create your stories?

“I began writing stories 40 years ago. Once at the youth center I had to address children with a little speech. Therefore, after the prayers I began telling stories and immediately saw the result because those stories brought everyone together, showing that each person is important. You know, it is like in that story about a woman who always turned the TV on before she went to bed. When she was asked about why she did that, she replied: ‘Because the lady on the TV is the only person who tells me good night.’ The stories come out from the accumulated thoughts and after getting some stimulus. Let’s take the example of an auction. An old violin is one of the lots. The starting price is five or ten euros. But then a man stands up in the hall, takes the violin in his hands, wipes the dust off it, and begins to play. Then the price rises to 1,000 or 2,000 euros. I consider myself to be that old violin. Thus, when the Master’s hand touches me I can play.”

Did you perfect your style during your studies at the seminary?

“I did not have such specific goal. The more a man writes, the better his style gets. I do not think that style should be perfect and complete, but it’s true!”

We know that after studying at the seminary you worked as a journalist. In your opinion, what is the most important task of journalism nowadays regardless of whether it is religious or secular?

“The most important task of journalism is to be able to tell people the truth. In journalism, facts should be the basis of the message and only then personal opinions can be presented. In Italy things are often opposite: personal opinion comes first and only then you read the information. Thus, there is manipulation. For me, a good journalist is associated with an evangelist. For example, they often say that the Gospel of Mark is the best sample of journalism because it is a description of the events without expressing of personal opinion. Moreover, a journalist has to have a grain of creativity because the things he writes about have to impress his audience. This means that through his work a journalist has to visualize the event.”

However, there are often atheists in the recipients’ audience. How should one talk about God to those people who don’t believe in Him?

“We should not be afraid of showing the living God, presenting Him the way He truly is – kind and caring. This should be enough, people in modern world need care and love.”

Every day the humankind is evolving at unprecedented speed. Political power changes in different countries. How a person can keep his/her inner base strong in this world?

“In my opinion, everyone should understand the importance of their inner base because if they lose it they will eat up everything they will come across, it means they will lose their protective filter. Therefore, we need to constantly reflect on our inner content, trying to make it better.”

Let’s get back to your creative work. The famous Norwegian writer Jostein Gaarder wrote that “every stage of creative work begins with a blank sheet of paper.” What is your situation?

“It starts with a small idea, such as a crack in the pavement where soon there will be a flower growing. Through your creative work you can praise something that is imperfect because the pavement with a crack can have many flowers growing in it.”

Were there situations in your life that you later used as a basis for your parables?

“Yes, indeed it happens very often. For example, the story of a newborn baby girl that I heard from my niece who works in a hospital. A mother, who was pregnant with her second child, did not want her son to be jealous of the new baby. So she taught the little boy to put his hands on her belly every night, sing a lullaby to his baby sister and talk to her. This was happening until the premature birth. Unfortunately, the girl was born sick. She was placed in a special incubator and doctors did not guarantee that she would survive. After the birth little boy began asking his parents about his baby sister, but parents did not want to traumatize him at first and only later dared to take him to the hospital. When the boy saw his sister in the incubator, he put his hands on it out of the old habit and began singing. And then a miracle happened. The condition of the newborn suddenly began to improve. After a while the girl was feeling much better and parents took her home. Doctors could not explain the phenomenon. I think that the answer is simple – we begin to live once we understand that we are needed.”

And finally, Father Ferrero, please share with us what your biggest dream is?

“My biggest dream is to get to heaven, as the other alternative is not quite pleasant.”