In the Catholic Church there as always been a desire for the aged, the very sick, and the dying to receive the Sacrament of the Sick, formerly known more commonly as Extreme Unction or the Last Rites. Special emphasis has always been on the dying. Until recently most people died at home rather than in a medical facility, and Catholic families were urged to be prepared for the coming of a priest to give the "Last Rites" for a dying loved one.

The easiest way to do this was to have a manufactured "sick call" set that contained objects useful in the administration of the sacrament and convenient for the priest, who would always with him the Oleum Infirmorum (Oil of the Sick) and Communion, but not necessarily other things that are helpful and meaningful.