A clergyman who had enjoyed an exceptional schooling once dreamt that he wandered over a field from which a mountain arose, the peak of which was crowned by a majestic castle more beautiful than he had ever seen. It appeared to him that it would be the ultimate joy to go to it.
After a while, he came to a river, and he followed its flow. He met twelve men who were washing their clothes in the river, and a thirteenth who was helping them. It appeared to the clergyman as though the men could not do anything without his help. He asked this man what his name was. “I’m called Jesus,” he replied. “What is that castle that I see on the mountain peak?” the clergyman asked further. “It is the heavenly paradise,” came the answer, “and is more beautiful than you can imagine. This river and the twelve men who wash their clothes show the regret for sins, then those who commit misdeeds must cleanse themselves through honest regret and wash away their mistakes before they can go to heaven.”
With that, the clergyman awoke. He went to the bishop and asked him for healing advice. At this time the monastic life was spreading, and in a nearby forest the building of a monastery had begun that was not yet complete. The clergyman went there, knocking on the gate. One of the brothers opened the gate, and it appeared to the clergyman as though he had seen this brother among the men washing clothes on the river.
He then saw the abbot and the other monks, together twelve in all, and he recognized that he had already seen all of them in his dream. At his request, he was accepted into the monastery. He told of the vision God had shown him to move him to repent. He remained in the monastery to his final day.