Sick Call Crucifix Set Value Guide

The Sick Call Crucifix Set is a poignant piece of mid-century Catholic history, serving as a portable altar for the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick. These American-made wooden crosses feature a hidden sliding or hinged compartment designed to store essential liturgical items for home visits by a priest.

What Is Sick Call Crucifix Set Worth?

The typical price range for Sick Call Crucifix Set is $75 - $75 based on recent sales. However, values can vary depending on the item's condition, rarity, and other factors such as:

• Completeness of the set, including the original candles, cotton, and glass holy water vial, significantly increases the $75 market value.
• The condition of the wood finish and the lack of oxidation or pitting on the brass Corpus.
• Presence of original instructional booklets or prayer cards specific to the 1940-1960 era.
• Functionality of the opening mechanism, ensuring the wood hasn't warped or cracked over time.

How to Identify Sick Call Crucifix Set?

• Look for a sliding or hinged front panel on the wooden cross that reveals internal storage compartments.
• Verify the presence of original 1940-1960s components including two small beeswax candles and a holy water bottle.
• Check for a brass Corpus (figure of Christ) securely mounted to the wooden frame, often featuring a mid-century aesthetic.
• Examine the back for a recessed hanging hole or a stand mechanism that allows the crucifix to be displayed upright during a ritual.

History of Sick Call Crucifix Set

Sick Call Sets, often called Last Rites kits, became common in Catholic households during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. These sets were kept ready for a priest to administer the sacrament of Anointing of the Sick to a gravely ill or dying person at home. They typically included a crucifix, blessed candles, holy water, and sometimes cotton or a small book of prayers, all neatly stored within a discrete wooden case that often disguised itself as a wall crucifix.