Something a friend posted on Facebook:
An interesting fact I found out recently. Many people bash Communion rails in the churches because they feel that the rails separate the faithful from the sanctuary. Actually the reality is quite the opposite, the rails actually bring the altar to the faithful. Check out this definition of a Communion Cloth from a book I've been reading on rubrics of the Roman Rite for Inferior Ministers:
(speaking of the Communion Cloth that covers the top of the Communion Rail)
"It takes the place of the corporal (always used in connection with the Sacred Species) and is an extension of the altar cloth, because the rail itself is considered to be an extension of the table of the altar from which the communicants derive the Bread of Angels. The faithful should not place their hands under the cloth, as this is not only contrary to the ancient law regarding the Communion cloth, but would cause it to become soiled"
It is very interesting to hear this, as I have never heard it preached or taught anywhere, I thought you would all find it interesting, as it totally debunks the common conception of a Communion rail dividing the faithful from the sanctuary.