In regard to Justin Martyr, he writes in
Dialogue With Trypho,
“For if you have fallen in with some who are called Christians, but who do not admit this [truth], and venture to blaspheme the God of Abraham, and the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob; who say there is no resurrection of the dead, and that their souls, when they die, are taken to heaven; do not imagine that they are Christians, even as one, if he would rightly consider it, would not admit that the Sadducees, or similar sects of Genistae, Meristae, Gallilleans, Hellenists, Pharisees, Baptists, are Jews (do not hear me impatiently when I tell you what I think), but are [only] called Jews and children of Abraham, worshipping God with the lips, as God Himself declared, but the heart was far from Him. But I and others, who are right-minded Christians on all points, are assured that there will be a resurrection of the dead, and a thousand years in Jerusalem, which will then be built, adorned, and enlarged, [as] the prophets Ezekiel and Isaiah and others declare.”
(Chapter XXXL)
CHURCH FATHERS: Dialogue with Trypho, Chapters 69-88 (Justin Martyr)
Protestants generally believe that when they die their immortal souls will immediately be taken to heaven. Justin sounds harsh about that belief. I presume you agree with Justin about that.
But I’m not asking about Protestant belief. (You’ve already made your position concerning them abundantly clear.) I’m interested in hearing about Catholic teaching from you.
I’m aware from attending Catholic funeral masses and graveside funeral services that you locate Christians (i.e. Catholics) in purgatory when they die. Are there any exceptions?
Also, Justin speaks about resurrected Christians spending 1,000 years in Jerusalem. That sounds very much like a connection with “the meek inheriting the earth” to me. What does Catholicism say about that?