 Daniel Vivien Michel Bergey was born on 19 April 1881 in the village of Saint-trélody-près-lesparre (now Lesparre-Médoc), Gironde, in a poor family of small farmers.He was ordained a priest in 1904, and was from 1906 "de facto" vicar of Saint-Émilion after his uncle—who had occupied the position until then—became paralyzed.In 1924, he founded the League of Priests Veterans (PAC; "Ligue des Prêtres Anciens Combattants").