Purgatory, according to
Catholic Church doctrine, is an
intermediate state after physical death in which those destined for
heaven "undergo purification, so as to achieve the holiness necessary to enter the joy of heaven". Only those who die in the state of grace but have not in life reached a sufficient level of holiness can be in Purgatory, and therefore no one in Purgatory will remain forever in that state or go to
hell. This notion has old roots.