A minor Candle of Invocation shenanigan

[TuggyNE]

It doesn't say when you are able to cast gate (although it completely consumes whatever's there), so is it possible for a cleric to start a candle, prepare spells, cast the ones you won't have access to when it's gone, and finally cast gate, getting essentially both sets of benefits from the candle for the price of one?

[ZeroNumerous]

It doesn't say when you are able to cast gate (although it completely consumes whatever's there), so is it possible for a cleric to start a candle, prepare spells, cast the ones you won't have access to when it's gone, and finally cast gate, getting essentially both sets of benefits from the candle for the price of one?

The gate bit does specify "in addition", so if you were able to prepare spells and cast what you want before the 4 hours are up, then technically, by RAW, yes.