Am I correct to state that Catholicism teaches that one can not really know until death?On the Contrary:
Here is what Saint Dominic de Guzman said as his death approached:
“Don’t worry, in heaven I shall be of much more use to you than I am now,...”
Similarly, Therese of Lisieux said:
"My mission - to make God loved - will begin after my death," she said. "I will spend my heaven doing good on earth. I will let fall a shower of roses."
And if someone only had the Scriptures -— could they have, in this life, absolute assurance of having been forever reconciled to God by Christ, and eternal life in Heaven? I mean by the actual published, Vatican approved doctrinal statements? I have seen statements to the contrary posted by Catholics on these pages.
You quoted two individuals who were neither Apostles nor writers of canonized Scripture. It would be unfruitful, of course, to argue against their personal sense of assurance. But does the Vatican accept these testimonies as doctrinally infallible and proof that any individual may have assurance in this life. Are these men's words infallible?