It is a text from an anthem sung during services in honour of Mary. It is a music very simple where we can feel some restraint serving the text as we can notice it in his other motets and vocal or sacred choral singings composed between 1887 and 1895 (e.g. O salutaris en B Major, Ecce fidelis servus for S.T., Bar and organ or l’Ave verum performed by 2 female voices accompanied by an organ of 1894). Maria, Mater Gratia was composed on March 1st, 1888 for 2 men voices or 2 female voices accompanied by an organ. It composed the second and last part of the opus 47 (the first one is composed of O salutaris in B Major for a voice and organ, a work that uses elements from a first (lost) version of 1878).
