SUNDAY, AUG. 9, 10 p.m.

A Hand of Peace: Pope Pius XII and the Holocaust

EWTN This 2008 documentary uses archival film and interviews to show that Pope Pius XII publicly opposed Nazism, protested persecution of Jews, and saved hundreds of thousands of Jews during World War II. Experts include Jesuit Father Peter Gumpel, postulator of the Pope’s cause for canonization; scholar Sister Margherita Marchione; and British Jewish historian Sir Martin Gilbert. Re-airs 2 p.m. Tuesday, 4 a.m. Friday.

SUNDAY, AUG. 9, 10 p.m.

Raging Planet: Lightning

DISCOVERY CHANNEL Videos and high-speed cameras in the United States, Venezuela and equatorial Africa picture the beauty of lightning, but also its destructive power. Advisory: TV-PG.

MONDAYS, AUG. 10 and 17, 11 a.m.

Icons of the Blessed Mother

CATHOLICTV Father Lenny Tighe of Boston examines the icons “Virgin of the Sign of Mt. Sinai” (Aug. 10) and “Virgin of Holy Protection” (Aug. 17). Each episode re-airs at 8 p.m. Wednesday and 1 a.m. Friday the same week.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12, 3 a.m., 6:30 p.m.

Fishers of Men

EWTN In this riveting 2007 film, Catholic priests of all ages reveal their love for their calling and describe the priesthood as an incomparable place for real men who desire to answer Christ’s “Come, follow me” call to a lifetime of service and sacrifice.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 12, 8 p.m.

Live from Lincoln Center: Mostly Mozart

PBS Violinist Joshua Bell joins the Lincoln Center’s Mostly Mozart Festival Orchestra under Louis Langree in a two-hour performance of Haydn’s “London” Symphony, Mozart’s Adagio for Violin and Orchestra in E major and Rondo for Violin and Orchestra in C major, and Mendelsson’s “Hebrides” Overture and Violin Concerto in E minor.

TUESDAY, AUG. 18, 9 p.m.

The Universe

HISTORY This series about the wonders and vastness of God’s creation is back for a fourth season. Tonight’s subject is stars that are about to explode into supernovae or into gigantic gamma ray bursts.

WEDNESDAY, AUG. 19, 8 p.m.

Time Team: Special Edition

PBS In this two-hour show, celebrity British archaeologists conduct a dig at Jamestown, site of the 1607 English colony in Virginia. Back home in London, they excavate under Windsor Castle and Buckingham Palace.

THURSDAY, AUG. 20, 2 p.m.

Medal of Honor: Vietnam

MILITARY CHANNEL Vietnam War veterans recount the actions in combat for which they were awarded the country’s highest decoration for valor.

Dan Engler writes from
Santa Barbara, California.