WHO THE HELL WAS ST. VALENTINE. and why is he venerated in the USA, a predominantly Protestant country? According to encyclopedias, he was a fifth century martyr, of no great importance in Catholic countries and his 'Saint's Day" has importance of some sort in the Anglican and Lutheran communities as the patron of "courtly love", "epilepsy" and "beekeepers"! It's anybody's guess why the U.S., not known for dedicating holidays to even major saints, make such a fuss over this liturgical nobody! Could it be because florists and confectioners wanted to boost flower and candy sales in the middle of winter, far from other holidays? By the way, the same can be said of St. Patrick, the other recognized saint in America. Until recent years he was not even celebrated in Ireland, where he is supposed to have rid Ireland of snakes, although that is some cynic's idea of a joke because, according to some historians, Ireland never had snakes! I believe in Chicago, St Valentine is the patron saint of Thompson machine guns.