the lighting of  the paschal candle. Jesus descended into purgatory to free the just who had gone before him. On this day the Church abstains strictly from the celebration of the sacrifice of the Mass. The entire celebration of the Easter Vigil takes place at night. It should not begin before nightfall. The procession, by which the people enter the church, is led by the light of the paschal candle alone. Just as the children of Israel were guided at night by a pillar of fire, so similarly, Christians follow the risen Christ. The Vigil has seven readings from the Old Testament chosen from the Law and the Prophets, which are in use everywhere according to the most ancient tradition of East and West, and two readings from the New Testament from the Gospel.