What takes place during the Preparation of the Altar and Gifts?

(Note to Viewers: The following quotes come from the 1970's Roman Missal.)

The Preparation of the Altar and Gifts is more than the time in the Mass when the priest receives the bread and wine from the parish family. This moment in the Mass is actually a time set for us to be spiritually prepared to enter into the mystery of the consecration in a prayerful state.

To understand what I am getting at, let us look at the short dialogue between the priest and the congregation just after receiving the bread and wine. The priest tells the congregation to "Pray, brethren, that my sacrifice and yours may be acceptable to God, the almighty Father.", which the congregation responds, "May the Lord accept the sacrifice at your hands for the praise and glory of His name, for our good, and the good of all His Church." This dialogue emphasizes the spiritual preparation as we enter into the mystery of the consecration.

So I hope the next time you are at Mass, you will not see the Preparation of the Altar and Gifts as a mundane time, but a time of spiritual preparation in a prayerful state.