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In order to go to Heaven, you must be free from the stain of sin because "nothing unclean shall enter heaven" (Revelation 21:27). Purgatory is a state for those who have died and are destined for Heaven but cannot enter it because their souls are not pure. In order words, these are people who have unrepented venial sins, have not fully expiated their mortal and venial sins (i.e. received temporal punishment), and/or still have attachments to things in this world (through sin) that take them away from God. These people will be purified in Purgatory and, once pure, they will enter Heaven. The Church does not know if Purgatory is a place or just a state, but we do know that it exists.
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