All times Eastern

SUNDAY, DEC. 29

All Praise Be Yours: Canticle of the Creatures EWTN, 7 p.m.

This hour-long special tells us all about the remarkable canticle of St. Francis of Assisi. Father Raniero Cantalamessa and actor Nardo Gazzolo visit Assisi, San Damiano, Montecasale and other places prominent in the life of the great 13th-century saint.

SUNDAY, DEC. 29

Concerto: A Musical Metaphor PBS, 10:30 p.m.

James Conlon uses Rachmaninoff's Piano Concerto No. 3 to illustrate the principles of accompaniment — a soloist working in unison with conductor and orchestra. Then he employs Mozart's Piano Concerto No. 21, today popularly recognized as “the Elvira Madigan,” to demonstrate a concerto's reconciliation of various themes and styles.

MONDAY, DEC. 30

The Emperor Who Saved Rome

History Channel, 9 p.m.

Titus Flavius Sabinus Vespasianus, or Vespasian (A.D. 9-79), became emperor in 69. He committed depredations in Judea and Britain, and Domitian and Titus were his sons.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1

William M. Carrigan, Witness and Friend of Padre Pio EWTN, 6 p.m.

The late William Carrigan was the personal friend of a saint — Padre Pio of Pietrelcina. In this riveting half-hour special, Carrigan tells many anecdotes about his good friend, whom he met while doing relief work during World War II. Carrigan made Padre Pio known in the United States by telling GIs about him and then spreading his message.

WEDNESDAY, JAN. 1

From Vienna: The New Year's Celebration PBS, 9 p.m.

This “Great Performances” features the Vienna Philharmonic playing Strauss Family waltzes and other pieces under the direction of guest conductor Nikolaus Harnoncourt.

THURSDAY, JAN. 2

Much Ado About Something

PBS, 9 p.m.

Did William Shakespeare really write all the plays and sonnets long attributed to him? His backers call the question settled, but others argue for the 17th Earl of Oxford (Edward de Vere), Christopher Marlowe or even Sir Francis Bacon. Written, produced, directed and narrated by Michael Rubbo, this documentary spends much of its 90 minutes on Marlowe. Rubbo's Marlowe advocates include John Baker and the late Calvin Hoffman, and we hear from insistent Shakespeare and Bacon partisans as well.

FRIDAY, JAN. 3

Religion & Ethics Newsweekly

PBS, 5 p.m.

On the heels of last week's wrapup of religious news for 2002 comes this panel discussion of predictions about the top stories of 2003. Bob Abernethy hosts.

SATURDAY, JAN. 4

The Fourth Wise Man

EWTN, 8 p.m.

This touching film portrays a fictional wise man's lifelong search for Jesus.

Dan Engler writes from Santa Barbara, California.