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The communion rail is a place of exchange. The people give time and receive eternity; they give self-denial and receive life; they give nothingness and receive all.

Holy Communion commits each to a closer union not only with Christ’s life, but also with his death: to greater detachment from the world, to surrender of luxuries for the sake of the poor, to death of the old Adam for rebirth in Christ, the new Adam.

(Venerable Fulton J Sheen from The Priest Is Not His Own)