Michael Browne

Michael Browne, OP (6 May 1887&mdash;31 March 1971) was an Irish 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.

Biography
Michael Browne was born in Grangemockler, County Tipperary, and joined the Order of Friars Preachers, commonly known as the Dominicans, in 1903. After studying at Rockwell College, the Dominican convent of St. Clemente in Rome, and the University of Fribourg, he was ordained to the priesthood on 21 May 1910. Browne then taught at the convent in Tallaght, where he was also Master of Novices, until 1919, at which time he became a professor at the Angelicum in Rome. He also served as Prior of the convent of St. Clemente from 1925 to 1930.

He was the Angelicum's rector magnifico from 1932 to 1941, and 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.

Browne attended the Second Vatican Council from 1962 to 1965. A stern conservative, he was opposed to the reforms of the Council (including religious liberty ) and was a friend of Archbishop Marcel Lefebvre. He also was one of the cardinal electors who participated in the 1963 papal conclave that selected Pope Paul VI. From 20 January 1971 until his death, Browne served as Cardinal Protodeacon.

He died in Rome, at age 83, and is buried in the convent in Tallaght.

Family
His brother Pádraig de Brún was also a Cardinal and he was an uncle of Máire Mhac an tSaoi, wife of Irish writer and politician Conor Cruise O'Brien.