Battlefield Detectives

HISTORY In this episode, “Civil War: Shiloh,” forensic historians re-examine the Civil War’s Battle of Shiloh, also known as Pittsburg Landing, in southwestern Tennessee, April 6-7, 1862, to investigate why the Confederates’ success on the first day turned into failure the second day. Advisory: TV-PG.
 

Mummies Alive

SMITHSONIAN CHANNEL In this new six-episode series, experts study naturally preserved mummies from ages past in order to re-create what their appearance and their lives would have been like. On June 14, in “Buried in a Bog,” archaeologists examine two ancient victims of violence unearthed in central Ireland in 2003. On June 21, in “Otzi the Iceman,” scientists reveal the latest findings about “Otzi,” a Neolithic murder victim found in 1991 at 10,500 feet in the Otztal Alps on the Italy-Austria border.
 

Africa: Life Under Siege

EWTN This original EWTN special follows pro-life speakers from Africa and around the world at the International Pro-Life Conference in Abuja, Nigeria, in June 2014, as they tell the world that Africa loves children and motherhood and rejects Western errors about marriage, sexuality, the family and population. Re-airs 11pm Saturday.
 

Nova: Escape From Nazi Alcatraz

PBS This two-hour special from 2014 tells the story of British captives in the Colditz Castle POW camp near Leipzig in Nazi Germany in World War II and the daring escape plan they hatched. Aero engineers and carpenters go to the castle and create a replica of the glider the POWs had hoped to build. Advisory: Prison scenes.
 

Sowers of Peace and Joy

EWTN This show about St. Josemaria Escriva (1902-1975) and the members of Opus Dei illustrates their mission of spreading the Gospel.
 

Cowboys & Outlaws: The Real McCoy

HISTORY This episode profiles Joseph “Cowboy” McCoy (1837-1915), known as “The Real McCoy,” the man who built up Abilene, Kan., and persuaded Texas ranchers to drive their longhorn cattle there for shipment to the north and east. Advisory: TV-PG.
 

Opening Mass for the Fortnight for Religious Freedom

EWTN “Freedom to Bear Witness” is the theme of this year’s June 21-July 4 national observance in defense of the Church’s rights and liberty. Mass will take place at the Basilica of the National Shrine of the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary in Baltimore. Re-airs at midnight. Note: May change due to the Papal Visit to Turin on June 21.
 

Coming to Christ: Resting in His Love

EWTN In this five-part miniseries, first aired in 2014, Susan Conroy uses Scripture, the saints’ writings and literature to teach us, as she says, “how to come to Christ!”
 

Bread of Life

EWTN In this show’s interviews, priests reveal their love for the Eucharistic Jesus.

Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.