TUESDAY, Dec. 18, 8pm

A Charlie Brown Christmas

ABC In this beloved "Peanuts" special, Linus consoles a sad Charlie Brown by reciting Luke 2:8-14 to remind him that Christmas is about Jesus’ birth.

WEDNESDAY-THURSDAY,
Dec. 19-20, various

Christmas Shows

EWTN On Wednesday at 6pm, Father Leo Patalinghug cooks Christmas specialties while reflecting on the birth of Christ in Savoring Our Faith. Re-airs at 11am Dec. 20. On Thursday at 5:30pm, enjoy a Christmas episode of Living Right With Dr. Ray. Re-airs at 10pm Dec. 22. Also on Thursday, at 11pm, country music star Collin Raye and singer Andrea Thomas perform Christmas favorites in Collin Raye’s Classic Christmas. Re-airs at 8pm Dec. 23.

SUNDAY, Dec. 23, 3am, 4pm

Christmas Specials

EWTN At 3am, EWTN’s Vatican Report spotlights Christmas preparations at St. Peter’s Basilica and a relic of Christ’s crib. Re-airs at 10pm Dec. 26. At 4pm is The Catholic University of America’s Christmas Concert (2012). Re-airs at 11pm Dec. 25.

MONDAY, Dec. 24, 4pm, live

Solemn Mass of Christmas Eve With Pope Benedict XVI

EWTN The Holy Father will celebrate Christmas Mass in St. Peter’s Basilica (re-airs at 8am and 7pm Dec. 25). NBC will also air the Mass at 11:34pm.

MONDAY, Dec. 24, 8pm

It’s a Wonderful Life

NBC George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) returns to his family and friends after angel-in-waiting Clarence shows him the terrible consequences of life without him.

TUESDAY, Dec. 25, 1 and 6am, live

Christmas Day

EWTN At 1am, the Franciscan Missionaries of the Eternal Word will celebrate the Solemn Mass of Christmas at their chapel in Irondale, Ala. Re-airs at midnight. At 6am, Pope Benedict will give his Urbi et Orbi ("to the city of Rome and the world") Message and Blessing.

WEDNESDAY, Dec. 26, 9pm

Nova: Building the Great Cathedrals

PBS Architects, engineers, computer scientists and historians examine Europe’s Gothic cathedrals to learn the builders’ secrets and ponder needed repairs. A re-airing.

Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.