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I prayed two Divine Mercy Chaplets in a row, starting right before 3 pm EST. I was at CPAC since Thursday, and this morning, right after Brett Schundler finished his speech, the emcee at the time came in and told us the dreadful news. One of my first thoughts was to pray the Chaplet, but in the bustle of the hotel and in my rush to find a TV, I didn't get to it until then. I have been an avid space "junkie" since I was 4 or 5, and I've been reading a lot about the shuttle and space exploration since then. When the emcee said that shuttle had crashed near Dallas, everyone in the ballroom was in shock. I couldn't believe what I was feeling. I thought that was too general of a statement, and possibly slightly inaccurate. Given how the shuttle reenters the atmosphere, the only thing I could think of was that it broke up before it reached Florida. When I heard somewhere that people saw multiple sonic booms when it passed overhead, it sort of confirmed my first thoughts. The only way that can happens is if the shuttle broke up, and more than one object was causing shock waves.

I went to FR sometime later that morning, and I saw your thread Siobhan, and I was glad that someone had a similar idea. I went around the main convention area, trying to find people to pray the Chaplet with me. A lot of the Catholic priests and students that I had seen during the past several days had probably left already. I talked to people at the Tradition, Family, Property and Catholic University of America tables, but they couldn't leave their tables. The person at the CUA table, who was a seminarian about to become a priest, said he would try to join me at least spiritually. I found that he was devoted to St. Faustina.

Since I had already checked out of the room, the only semi-quiet place I could think of was in the sitting areas on the lobby level, so I went there. I was disturbed several times by people walking by and coming off the nearby elevators, but I tried my best to keep focus on my prayers. I prayed the Chaplet twice because I was doing a novena to the Divine Mercy, because I didn't get to say it on Friday. I had started to in the Crypt Church at the Basilica of the Divine Mercy, which I had gone to by Metro for daily Mass, but I forgot that they do benediction right before the 5:15 Mass, so I joined in that. The monstance was on the altar, but I didn't realize that until I was knelt down and the organist start playing the introduction to Tantum ergo.

This past day was a tragic day for our nation and the whole world. But we can honor their souls by praying for them to the Lord our God. May angels lead them into Paradise.

RIP, STS-107 Crew - Commander USAF Colonel Rick Husband, Pilot USN Commander William McCool, Payload commander USAF Lt. Colonel Michael Anderson, Mission Specialist Kalpana Chawla, Mission Specialist USN Captain David Brown, Mission Specialist USN Commander Laurel Clark, and Payload Specialist IDF Colonel Ilan Ramon.

"...I never said thank you for that.
Now I'll never get a chance."

"May angels lead you in
Hear You me my friends
on sleepless roads, the sleepless go
may angels lead you in"
Jimmy Eat World - "Hear You Me"