Saint Thomas Becket (c. 1118–1170) was the Archbishop of Canterbury whose conflict with King Henry II over the rights of the Church led to his martyrdom. Initially a loyal royal servant, Becket’s commitment to defending the Church’s independence brought him into direct opposition with the king, especially over the Constitutions of Clarendon. After years of exile, Becket returned to England, where he excommunicated bishops loyal to Henry. On December 29, 1170, Becket was murdered by knights in Canterbury Cathedral. His death made him a martyr, and he was canonized in 1173, becoming one of England’s most revered saints.
The Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) has decreed that this is a Holy Day of Memorial (Optional) to be observed in Canada.