Dolan mourns firefighter

Timothy Cardinal Dolan devoted most of his Easter sermon on Sunday to comparing last week’s funeral of an FDNY lieutenant to Good Friday.

“Two days ago was the real Good Friday, but also Tuesday of Holy Week, the funeral Mass here at St. Patrick’s Cathedral for Lt. Michael Davidson. Folks, take my word for it, that funeral Mass was Good Friday,’’ Dolan told the packed Fifth Avenue church, referring to the 37-year-old firefighter who died battling a March 22 blaze at a Harlem building being used as a film set.

“Like that first Good Friday, the darkness was thick,” Dolan told some 3,000 worshippers. “Like that first Good Friday, the floors of this cathedral seemed to tremble with the earthquake of sadness. And yet that last Tuesday, there was also a hint of Easter.”

For Christians, Good Friday commemorates the death of Jesus and Easter his resurrection.

“I watched as there were embraces of love, tenderness and outreach for [Davidson’s widow] Eileen and [their] four kids,’’ the cardinal said. “There were smiles and even laughter. There was good solidarity and commitment among the firefighters. There were assurances we’d get through all this. The prayers were sincere. The Mass was extraordinarily reverent.

“The sun came up the next morning because of that faith and hope and because of Easter.”

Davidson’s family wasn’t present for the Easter Mass, but Dolan said he has been checking in with the firefighter’s widow and members of his battalion.

The cardinal attended a wake for Davidson the week before, in addition to Tuesday’s funeral.

“Sunday was such a piercing example for me of the power of the resurrection,’’ he said. “I saw the firefighters, and I saw Eileen and his kids. Their sorrow was profound. Their missing him was deep.

“But yet they didn’t give up. They kept going, and I thought that’s what Easter is about. Life over death. Good over evil. Love over hatred. They exemplified it for me.”