The Catholic Church on Sunday said that periodic hangouts by couples will boost spouses’ intimacy and enhance marriage stability.

The church encouraged spouses to indulge in outside-the-home treats to renew their love and bonding, in order to avoid marital instability.

The church gave the advice during the Catholic Men Organisation’s couples feast, held at the Saints Peter and Paul Parish, Tedi, Lagos.

A marriage counselor, Okechukwu Obereagu, described marriage as a “calling with assigned purpose and rules guiding it”.

Mr Obereagu said that marriage was the first institution established by God for human sustainability.

He decried the undoings of couples that threatened the matrimonial union, which in several cases led to divorce or separation, advising spouses to reignite bonds with hangouts.

“Pray together as a family to make God the pilot of the marriage journey and family manager. As partners made one in the union, always expect imperfection from your partner and do well to absorb such with love.

“Couples should captivate love for each other, know when best to do things that endear you to your spouse, and facilitate those regularly. Laugh at each other’s conduct worthy of criticism and refrain from unhealthy arguments. Avoid unhealthy competitions.

“Avoid sleeping separately when there is friction. One person should activate a healing process to dose off the acrimony within 24 hours,” he said.

The CMO chaplain, who doubles as the Parish Priest of the Church, Anthony Thompson, asked fathers to love their wives just as Christ loved the church and gave all to it.

The priest asked the wives to be submissive to their husbands, refrain from a life of complaints, and eschew attitudes that did not portray them as good Christian mothers.

The chaplain asked the parishioners to live a life of thanksgiving and gratitude to God for the gift of life. He prayed for peace in families and the protection of the children.

(NAN)