VARIOUS

Discovering Secrets of the Vatican

PBS This hour-long, English-language version of a Polish documentary about Vatican City traces the discovery of St. Peter’s bones, interviews cardinals, tours St. Peter’s Basilica, the Sistine Chapel and the gardens, and visits the Swiss Guards, the printery, broadcasters, art restorers and more. Check local listings.

SUNDAY, 7 p.m.

John 17

FAMILYLAND TV Chapter 17 of St. John’s Gospel opens with these words of Jesus from his prayer at the Last Supper, “Father, the hour has come. Give glory to your Son, so that your Son may glorify you, just as you gave him authority over all men, so that he may give eternal life to all you gave him. Now this is eternal life, that they should know you, the only true God, and the one whom you sent, Jesus Christ.”

MONDAY, 9 p.m.

Battles B.C.

HISTORY Via computer animation and interviews with historians, this premiere episode of this new series recreates Carthaginian General Hannibal’s march over the Alps in 218 B.C. during the Second Punic War and his subsequent battles in Italy.

TUESDAY, 9:30 p.m.

Abduction: The Megumi Yokota Story

PBS This “Independent Lens” episode recounts communist agents’ kidnapping of Megumi Yokota, 13, from Japan to North Korea in 1977 to teach Japanese ways to Red spies. Megumi’s now-aged parents and their twin sons do not believe the North Korean claim in 2002 that she became mentally ill and committed suicide in 1994; and Japan says DNA tests show that “cremated remains” from North Korea are not Megumi’s.

WEDNESDAYS, 8 p.m.

The Films of Ronald Reagan

TURNER CLASSIC MOVIES This every-Wednesday-in-March tribute to Ronald Reagan, who fought the communists in Hollywood and eventually became our 40th president, features some of his 24 films. Tonight’s slate: Brother Rat (1938 comedy), Brother Rat and a Baby (1940 comedy), Tugboat Annie Sails Again (1940 comedy), An Angel From Texas (1940 comedy) and Stallion Road (1947 drama).

FRIDAYS

Stations of the Cross, 3:30 a.m., noon and 6:30 p.m.

CATHOLICTV This Lenten telecast lets viewers prayerfully follow Jesus’ steps along the Way of the Cross.

SATURDAY, 1 p.m.

Crossing the Goal

EWTN In this three-hour special episode, Danny Abramowicz and cohosts Peter Herbeck, Curtis Martin and Brian Patrick head to Ohio. They visit the 12th annual Columbus Catholic Men’s Conference to urge attendees to get their spiritual lives in shape. “Guys respond to a challenge. The Lord will help them, but they have to admit that something is not right in their life,” says Abramowicz. Taped March 7.

Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.