Not my understanding of purgatory. It is not half way between heaven and hell, nor a place that gives the unsaved a second chance. Rather a place where only the saved go. The anti room to heaven where the bride is prepared for the wedding. Now I am Lutheran and thus not an expert on this Catholic doctrine. Catholics can you help out here?
It seems to me that you have summarized the doctrine accurately. From Purgatory, there is no going to Hell, only - certainly - to heaven. From Hell, there is no going to Purgatory or Heaven. C.S. Lewis rather confused it in “The Great Divorce,” iirc.
You are correct. Souls in a state of purging are already judged and are destined for heaven. They are suffering their purgation, but are joyful because they know they will go to heaven. Nothing unclean will enter heaven. They are being purged of the last stains of sin.
This is correct according to Catholic doctrine also.
Everyone undergoing purgation (purification) is in a state of grace--- destined for heaven. And they know it. Therefore Purgatory is a state of hope.
As a RCIA --- adult converts' ed --- teacher in my parish, I always minimize using the word "place" in relation to Purgatory, simply because it implies that it's "geographical." ("Gee, do you suppose it's a couple miles down there, under the crustal plates?")
Purgatory is simply a state required for most good people, to become detached from their sins and cleansed of the temporal "stains" of sin. I like the idea of the Bride getting her gown bleached, de-spotted and ironed --- of course that's a Biblical image.
It's as if you've been invited to the wedding feast and you were just in the midst of mucking out the hogs' pen. You'd BEG for the opportunity to get thoroughly washed before going in to the feast.
Purgatory: As “real” as Oz. No Biblical substantiation for it.
I know... I know... I have R.C. friends (one trained in Seminary) and they admit that they think “some stuff” in the Bible is true. But they believe made-up stuff carries more weight. If there’s a question whether an answer would come from the Bible or guys in collars, the guys always win.