Inconsistencies?? Curious.

So I am an Eastern Catholic, I have never been Roman/Latin Catholic for context. I find the Western tradition(s) to be so incredible! Especially Anglican/“Brittanic” or the ancient Celtic Rite. Unlike other Eastern/Oriental Catholics and Orthodox I also really appreciate the Latin theology about the Eucharist. I dig the devotions you guys have like Adoration or the Eucharistic miracles or the way the Western Fathers and saints talk about the Eucharist with such passion.

I think that something that really confuses me though about the Latin Church today though is the disconnect and inconsistency with how Roman Catholic laity (and clergy) actually live out the Eucharist. I have visited at Latin churches and have been so shocked at some of the disciplines and practices and lack of reverence like joking about the elements (childish things like getting “drunk” on the Blood, etc), not fasting beforehand, stories of finding the Lamb trampled underneath pews, etc. Even things like venerating the priest’s hand (because he handles the Mysteries) or bowing when you pass in front of the Holy Table (the altar for the Eucharist, I don’t know the name for this in the Roman church), seems odd.

Of course we are all human and there isn’t perfection anywhere but it really feels like this discipline and understanding (which feels very Protestant to me) is kind of consistent and widespread in the parishes which are not intentionally “traditional”. I have read Vatican 2 and there is literally nothing in the Council that supports this, so where did this come from? What is happening to the Roman Church? Why does it feel so “casual” and how do people square that with their very “un-casual” and beautiful theology? It just doesn’t track with the supreme devotion and extremely high theology of the Eucharist that is so characteristic of Latin theology. When I look at the more intentionally traditional parishes it is very evident, but the Latin Catholic “default” seems to be a “casualness is a virtue” vibe that is very American evangelical/protestant-esque. I hope I don’t sound judgy just trying to understand as an “outsider”.