Interlude 21: The Divine Fool
Sister Wisigard, Chief Archivist of Val Royeaux
The Divine Joyous I's reign was as short as it was unorthodox.
As it had been for many years, the previous divine, passed away from old age and left the name of her successor. The Divine Renata II had a very long and distinguished tenure as Divine, but in her waning years it was suspected that age had taken its toll on her faculties. She named a simple sister, Deuteria, as her successor. This sister had been responsible for bringing the aging divine her meals and entertaining the poor woman in her last days.
Initially the Grand Consensus balked at the idea, assuming that Deuteria had ingratiated herself to the Divine Renata in an attempt to use the woman as a stepping stone to seize power. This assumption was soon proved false, as the sister was interviewed by the Consensus and found to be quite simple. Though intelligent, the young woman was painfully naïve and gregarious, all outward appearances dictating her to be unsuitable for so esteemed a position.
The gathered clerics consoled themselves that Deuteria was not desirous of power, but had been chosen as a result of the elderly Divine's eccentricity due to her advanced age. The Consensus then turned its attention to consider a variety of candidates for the position. This led to a series of arguments and speeches, drawing out what still remains as the longest Grand Consensus in the history of the Chantry. After two weeks the clerics were deadlocked over a variety of candidates, no closer to deciding on a Divine than when they had first begun.
The legends state that a small blue bird flew into the chamber from an open window, landing upon the shoulder of Sister Deuteria. The bird then commenced singing a song so sweet, that the gathered clerics ceased arguing and stopped to listen, entranced by the natural beauty of the song. The young sister offered the bird some crumbs from a crust of bread she had in her pocket. The bird picked up the crumbs, flew around Deuteria's head three times, then promptly left the chamber through the same open window it had entered.
Many of those gathered insisted the occurrence had been a miracle, the bird symbolizing the simplicity of the Bride of the Maker and her message through the song, moving the hearts of men. Favor among the assemblage shifted towards Sister Deuteria as candidate, though some of the clerics from Tevinter scoffed at so simple a view of the Maker, arguing that the event was happenstance and not truly a miracle. In the end, however, Deuteria was elected unanimously.
Deuteria chose the name, Joyous, becoming the first Divine to adopt that name. The name fit her demeanor, as she felt that it was Andraste's joy in spite of her suffering that drew the attention of suffering. It was during Divine Joyous' reign that music became commonplace in the services, as previously the Chant of Light was simply spoken and not sang. Liturgical music was embraced and endorsed.
However, many of Divine Joyous' detractors claimed that she undermined the authority of the Chantry by walking openly among the populace, encouraging people to come to her, entertaining the opinions of washerwomen, cooks, gardeners, even Elvish servants. No one was beneath her notice and she treated them all equally. Those opposed to her behavior often derisively refered to her privately as, "the Divine Fool."
Shortly after her own ascension, attention was lessened over worries of mages and given to serving the poor. Some historians claimed that she nearly bankrupted the Chantry coffers, giving the money freely to those less fortunate, though it cannot be proven as factual. However, it is common knowledge that she adopted a far more unpretentious outlook on her position, claiming that she was called to serve, not to rule.
Traditionally, it is believed that during the colder months, Joyous would steal into Val Royeaux at the darkest day towards the end of Satinalia, find the poorest wretches in the city and bring them back to her quarters at the Grand Cathedral. Once she was satisfied with her assemblage, she herself would dress her "guests" in clean clothes, help to bathe any wounds they possessed, and serve them a lavish meal, putting the lowest among them at the head of the table. (More often than not, this place of honor would be given to a child.)
Once the meal had been concluded, the Divine herself would tuck these people into warm beds. On waking during the following day, the people who the Divine had chosen would be found berths in occupations or found homes that would utilize the gifts that these forgotten denizens possessed. She helped many in this fashion and became beloved for her kindness and, of those that Divine Joyous aided in this fashion, many in turn helped their fellows, the compassion being repaid by further compassion which spread among the city itself and the whole of Orlais.
When asked once by a cleric how she found the recipients of her kindness, the Divine Joyous simply replied, "A little bird brought them to my attention." She refused to elaborate beyond this.
Unfortunately, this continued for only a handful of years, as a wasting illness took her away from her duties. However, even in the face of illness, Divine Joyous served her flock both humbly and joyfully. Her acts of kindness were vast and legendary and for many years after her death, the Chantry would honor her memory by holding "Feasts of the Joyous" in which the lowliest were given places of honor at elaborate feasts during the time of Satinalia. These feasts would include much drinking and merriment.
Later, at the death of Divine Joyous II and the beginning of the Black Age, the tradition of annual "Feasts of the Joyous" were abandoned, being purported as frivolity in the face of darker and more serious times. An unknown cleric even wrote in response, "The joy of faith has died, replaced with solemnity and blood."
The Divine Joyous herself has been forgotten as a minor footnote in the Chantry's history when viewed in comparison to the Exalted Marches and the austerity of her successors, but her spirit of charity and compassion still lives on in many places where the Chantry holds sway and the sisters serve the poor.