Boulevard du Chanoine Bonifay

Antoine-Victor-Joseph Bonifay was born in Saint-Zacharie on March 6, 1874, son of Jules, a cart driver, and Rose Légier. He drew from his origins an unwavering attachment to the Provençal traditions of which he became the apostle. A Félibre with a perfect command of the language of his fathers, he was also a writer and moralist writer at times: we owe to the abbot Antoni Bonifay a Provençal prose entitled Rapugado (grapillée), which Mgr Guillibert was not afraid to honour with a letter by way of preface. He had first studied classical literature at the Good Shepherd in Marseilles under the tutelage of Canon de la Paquerie and, while still a student, had tried his hand at oratory and writing by publishing articles in Provençal and by creating a newspaper. He was also a man of solid constitution and energetic character, and it was necessary to go beyond the first impression to discover a personality of captivating goodness and great charity, which would ensure his true popularity. Ordained a priest, he was entrusted with the parish of Tanneron where he cleared and planted a vineyard for his successors. He then became vicar at Vidauban in 1902, at Carcès in 1903, at Solliès-Pont in 1906, and at La Seyne in 1907. Father Bonifay was then parish priest of Nans in 1910, of Vidauban in 1925 and finally of Brignoles in 1933, the year in which he received the title of honorary canon of the cathedral. In all these parishes, he would develop a deep attachment to him, after the first feeling of surprise in front of this slightly original priest with his roundness and Gallic appearance. The archpriest of Brignoles died in his town on May 11, 1947.