Weekly TV Picks

SUNDAYS

History Speaks

Familyland TV, 10:30 a.m.

In new episodes of his show, Catholic pro-life history expert, author and speaker Bill Federer marshals many examples to illuminate the Christian roots of the United States. He also disproves secularists’ misrepresentations of U.S. history.

SUNDAY, JULY 9

Holy Mass at Notre Dame

Hallmark Channel, 11 a.m.

View the holy Sacrifice of the Mass in the beautiful late 19th-century Basilica of the Sacred Heart at the University of Notre Dame in South Bend, Ind. The basilica, spearheaded by Notre Dame’s founder, Holy Cross Father Edward Sorin, is the mother church of the Congregation of Holy Cross in the United States. Its murals, stained-glass windows, and gold sizing and gilding were restored in the 1980s.

SUNDAY, JULY 9

Pirates

History Channel, 7 p.m.

The mid-17th century to the early 18th was the heyday of piracy countenanced or sponsored by the English and others against the New World treasure ships of Catholic Spain. At 7 p.m., Modern Marvels: Pirate Tech explores nautical and weapons advances. At 8 p.m., True Caribbean Pirates profiles some notorious pirates. Advisory: TV-PG.

TUESDAY, JULY 11

Major League Baseball

All-Star Game

Fox, 8 p.m.

Baseball, our “national pastime,” has limitless appeal to America’s children and families, as this exciting annual showcase amply reveals.

WEDNESDAY, JULY 12

EWTN Live

EWTN, 8 p.m.

Jesuit Father Mitch Pacwa’s guest is Father Frank Pavone, founder of the Priests for Life pro-life group and of a new society of apostolic life, the Missionaries of the Gospel of Life. Based in the Diocese of Amarillo, Texas, under Bishop John Yanta, the new order, says Father Pavone, will do extensive media work and travel into communities and parishes to “raise a trumpet call to the whole Church to give the defense of life the priority it deserves, at every level of Church life and ministry.”

THURSDAY, JULY 13

Dog Champions

Animal Planet, 7 p.m., 11 p.m.

Outstanding canines show why we call dogs “man’s best friend.”

FRIDAY, JULY 14

Bible Battles

History Channel, 10 p.m.

Military historians study battles, strategies, commanders and weapons of the Old Testament, from the time of Abraham to that of David. Advisory: TV-PG.

SATURDAY, JULY 15

Completely Christ’s

EWTN, 8 p.m.

Is Christ calling you to the consecrated life? This hour-long show has answers about how to truly listen to him and to respond.

Dan Engler writes from

Santa Barbara, California.