Our Savior frequently foretold that his followers would suffer savage persecution for his sake.  Indeed, it would seem from The Lord's words that persecution would be the Church's natural state.  During the persecutions launched against the early Christians by the Roman Empire, many heroic men, women, and children obtained the palm of martyrdom.  But at the same time, many people renounced Christ under severe torture, and were subsequently released by the authorities.  Grief-stricken, these fallen folks -- called "lapsi", from the Latin word for "fallen" -- sought to return to the Church.  There were those who opposed their re-admission because they had denied Christ.  Following are two sections of a moving letter written by a fourth century monk named Bacharius on behalf of some "lapsi" to a bishop named Januarius:

"Behold, our brother proceeds into battle with us against our common foes and suddenly, through misfortune, he is struck down.  And you have judged him unworthy of the honor of burial and have left him to be devoured by wild animals and birds.  Where is the mercy of Christian religion, which our Master taught us was better than sacrifice (cf. Matthew 9, 13)?  Behold, our brother lies, beaten by the enemy.  It may be that he is still beating him.  And you yourselves have returned without a wound, and you have assailed him so that the consolation for his wounds is delayed.  Do not be without dread, most blessed brothers, for the enemy has beaten one who is stronger [than yourselves].  Why, I ask you, do you spurn the wounded or think him thus to be dead?  Respha, the daughter of King Saul's concubine, acted better, for, spreading out sackcloth, she guarded with it the bodies of those whom David struck down in revenge for the Gabaonites until water rained down from heaven -- that is, until a drop of heavenly mercy flowed down for their sins (cf. 2 Kings 21, 10).  Judas Maccabeus acted better, too.  He believed that prayer should be made for his dead brothers who were struck down because of the stolen donaries of the idols of the city of Jamnia (cf. 2 Maccabees 40)."

"Most blessed one, I beseech you, let us not bury our brother, who has been plunged into a deep pit by the power of evil with the stones of despair.  Let us imitate that Ethiopian who freed holy Jeremiah, who was cast into a pit by a wicked king, with the aid of the thirty men he brought with him, throwing down to him cloths and rags (cf. Jeremiah 38, 7, 11).  See our brother in a pit!  Let us bring thirty men, that is, the help of the Blessed Trinity, and let us free him who has been thrown down, whether by the suffering of his soul, flesh, or spirit, into a deep pit.  Let us throw down to him old rags: let us recall to his memory the examples of the ancients, who afterwards brought back those who fell by their sin, from the depths of the wicked to the heights, through penance: for when these are set before his eyes, he will not be able to despair.  It is usual for a soldier struck down in the first battle to fight more bravely in the second, and, now furious, he rises up against the one who struck him."