WEDNESDAYS, April 9, 16, 23, 9pm

Nova: Inside Animal Minds

PBS This three-part documentary series looks at scientific research into how animals solve problems, communicate, understand and react to things.

SUNDAY, April 13, 3:30am live

Palm Sunday

EWTN Pope Francis will say the Solemn Mass of Palm Sunday, with the Angelus afterwards (re-airs at 8pm). At 8am, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word will celebrate Mass. At noon, Mass will be celebrated in Washington at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception.

MONDAY, April 14, 10pm

The Cleveland Orchestra in Performance: Bruckner Symphony No. 4

PBS In this 90-minute program recorded in 2012 at the Abbey of St. Florian in Austria, the Cleveland Orchestra performs Catholic composer Anton Bruckner’s works.

THURSDAY-SATURDAY, April 17-19, live

The Triduum

EWTN At 3:30am on Holy Thursday, Pope Francis will celebrate the Chrism Mass, live from Rome (re-airs at 11:30am). At 5:30pm, Choral Meditations and Solemn Mass of the Lord’s Supper will take place in Washington at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Immaculate Conception. At 11am Good Friday, Pope Francis will preside at the Solemn Celebration of the Lord’s Passion (re-airs at midnight). Celebrations of the Passion will be observed at 4pm by the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word and at 5:30pm at the National Shrine. The Way of the Cross from Rome will air via tape delay at 8pm (re-airs at 3am Saturday.) At 2:30pm on Holy Saturday, Pope Francis will celebrate the Easter Vigil Mass. At 8pm, the Easter Vigil Mass at the National Shrine will take place in Washington.

SATURDAY, April 19, 2pm

Quo Vadis

TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES This 1951 epic has a reverent portrayal of St. Peter and his fellow martyrs in Rome during Nero’s persecution. Finlay Currie is the first pope, and Robert Taylor, Deborah Kerr, Peter Ustinov and Leo Genn also star.

Next issue: TV highlights related to the canonizations of John Paul II and John XXIII.

Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.