Michael Browne (cardinal)

Michael Browne, OP (born David Browne, 6 May 1887 – 31 March 1971) was an Irish priest of the Dominican Order and a Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Master General of the Dominicans from 1955 to 1962, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1962.

Michael Browne was born in Grangemockler, County Tipperary.

Browne joined the Order of Friars Preachers, commonly known as the Dominicans, in 1903. After studying at Rockwell College, the Dominican convent at the Basilica of San Clemente in Rome, and the University of Fribourg, he was ordained to the priesthood on 21 May 1910.

Browne taught at the Dominican convent in Tallaght, where he was Master of Novices until 1919 when he was appointed professor at the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas, Angelicum in Rome.

Browne served as Prior of the convent of St. Clemente from 1925 to 1930.

He was the Angelicum's rector magnificus from 1932 to 1941

Browne was appointed Master of the Sacred Palace from 1951 to 1955.

He became Master General of the Dominicans on 11 April 1955, remaining in that position until his resignation in 1962. Before becoming a bishop, he was created Cardinal-Deacon of S. Paolo alla Regola by Pope John XXIII in the consistory of 19 March 1962. Cardinal Browne was later appointed Titular Archbishop of Idebessus on 5 April 1962. He received his episcopal consecration on the following 19 April from John XXIII, with Cardinals Giuseppe Pizzardo and Benedetto Aloisi Masella serving as co-consecrators, in the Lateran Basilica.