In the popular belief, St.Peter sat as a door-keeper at the gate of heaven.

To him it had been given to bind or to loose.

He admitted or excluded the Spirits of men at his pleasure.

Many persons, however, were disposed to deny him this power, since his decisions would be anticipatory of the judgment-day, which would thus be rendered needless.

After the time of Gregory the Great, the doctrine of purgatory met with general acceptance.