you wrote: What reasons do you have for believing the SSPX is a "strong orthodox order", and what do you think that they do differently that causes them to be strong and orthodox as compared to other orders that you think are not "strong and orthodox"?
Their formation is very traditional from spiritual and philosophical perspective. That does not guarantee orthodoxy in the priest (as you know )of course but it goes a long way. In this time of such change and upheaval in the Church when there is so much clerical heresy and corruption in those schooled in the modern seminary, a traditional-trained priest is much more likely to speak in his homilies and act in his own life according to the Catechism. For a high percentage of NO priests, their sermons are "much ado about nothing" at best; it's pitiful: these priests actually believe they are saying anything worthwhile.
Certainly there are good NO priests just far too few of them. I heard one give a fantastic sermon on Matthew 20, the workers in the vineyard, one of my favorite parables
I do think that when the occasional SSPX priest goes off on his generic "you shouldn't NO mass at all" tangent, that is damaging to them. That is overstated just like those who easily label all SSPX attendees and clerics "schismatics"---I regard both as overreaching. When I went to an independent chapel years ago, I was not mad at the pope or rejecting him. I was simply going to mass where I could hear a good homily and have my soul lifted up by the mass.
A good NO can certainly do that as well.
Bingo. Plus, it is completely disciplined. Check out:
What makes STAS different from the other seminaries in America?
St. Thomas Aquinas Seminary draws from the greatest riches of the 2,000 year history of the Church in the formation of her priests. The formation that the seminarians receive is traditional in every aspect: doctrine, liturgy, retreats, daily schedule, etc. The core of the seminarians' study is the philosophy and theology of St. Thomas Aquinas, while moderate proficiency in Latin is required before ordination. A typical day in the life of the seminarian contains three hours of prayer, four hours of study, three hours of classes, and a hour and a half of recreation. Seminarians are expected to attain the holiness required of a priest, through the means provided at the Seminary: daily Mass, meditation, Rosary, and hours of the Divine Office, as well as Benediction, Ignatian retreats, monthly recollections, and weekly confession and spiritual direction.
How long is the formation that the seminarian receives?
It lasts six or seven years, depending on the previous education of the entering seminarian. The first year, the year of Humanities, gives the seminarian a natural foundation for the supernatural formation ahead, through courses in Catholic Doctrine, Latin, Literature, English Composition, and Music. The year of Spirituality follows, wherein seminarians learn about the spiritual life in Ascetical and Mystical Theology, and take introductory courses of Scripture, Liturgy, and Acts of the Magisterium. Next come two years of philosophy, which cover the History of Philosophy, Logic, Cosmology, Psychology, Ethics, and Metaphysics. The seminarian completes his formation with three years of theology, following St. Thomas' Summa Theologica in Dogmatic and Moral Theology. Each of the last five years also contains courses in Scripture and Church History.
Check out their daily schedule:
How many other seminaries in the US have formation like this? I invite anyone to check out the other seminary's websites. The one in my diocese is pathetic compared to this.