This work investigates the synthesis of ancient classical vocal polyphony with 19th-century functional harmony within the context of liturgical choral composition. Josef Rheinberger, a prominent composer and pedagogue of the late Romantic era, utilizes this mass to demonstrate a sophisticated integration of traditional contrapuntal techniques and expressive, songlike voice-leading. The score serves as a primary document for the study of double-choir arrangements and the evolution of sacred music during the late 1800s.

The work is widely regarded by musicologists and choral directors as a pinnacle of 19th-century sacred vocal music, noted for its technical purity and harmonic depth. Its historical significance is underscored by the recognition it received from the Vatican upon its completion, marking it as a definitive example of Rheinberger's compositional mastery.