Little lessons of love

The following reflection was given by Elizabeth Gnau, Nurs '26, the 2026 Baccalaureate Mass student speaker.

Good morning to my fellow members of the class of 2026, families, friends, and supporters. My name is Elizabeth Gnau, and today I will be graduating from the College of Nursing. Our time at Marquette has been more than just an education, but a period of formation - one that has transformed us all. Over the course of hundreds of credits, we've learned tons of important knowledge and skills in subjects ranging from health sciences, business, theology, and countless other majors, but for me, the greatest lesson I've learned during these past four years at Marquette is what it means to love and to be loved.

First, to love.

When I first came to Marquette, I was very focused on productivity and being a high-achieving student - I was always thinking about what was next, how I could be better, and how I could do more. But that way of living left little room for rest, relationships or simply being present, and ultimately it led me to feelings of desolation and burnout.

Through that experience, I came to realize that while my GPA and accomplishments are good things, when I placed too much weight on them, they pulled me away from the people I was encountering and the relationships I was building. It was here at Marquette, through those relationships, that I began to learn what it means to love: to be present, to serve, and to recognize the dignity in each person I meet.

In the Gospel of Matthew, Jesus says "whatever you did for one of these least brothers of mine, you did for me." As a nursing student, I've experienced the sorrow of sitting with families at the bedside of their loved ones in their final days, as well as the joy of seeing cancer patients ring the bell to celebrate remission after aggressive treatments. I know that when I look into the eyes of my patients, I am also looking into the eyes of Christ.

Similarly, today I can look out into this congregation and see hundreds of precious images of God, who I believe is fully alive within each of us - something we have just affirmed in the reception of the Holy Eucharist. Take a moment to look around at those sitting near you - see the face of Christ looking back at you.

Second, I've learned what it means to be loved.

I've learned that it is good and virtuous to allow myself to be loved, because I'm a firm believer that we were created by God, who is love, and has created us for love. Yet for a long time, I tried to live as if I didn't need it.

When I first came to Marquette, I was living at a fast pace, driven by a desire to prove myself and be self-sufficient. In many ways, I resisted slowing down or letting others in. But over time, I've come to realize that receiving love meant slowing down and trusting the community around me - and I'm so grateful for my friendships here at Marquette that have shown me what it means to be loved.

I've received this love through community found on Marquette campus ministry retreats, Tuesday Night Mass, and Marquette Catholic Women's Group. Additionally, I've experienced this love through the community of hope grown from my work with suicide prevention initiatives here on campus.

I sincerely hope your time at Marquette has also taught you what it means to love and to be loved. I encourage you to reach out to a professor, classmate, friend or teammate in the next week to express your gratitude for the ways they have loved and supported in getting to this special day.

To paraphrase our patron Saint, St. Ignatius of Loyola:

"Love consists in

sharing what one has

and what one is

with those one loves."

As we walk across that graduation stage today and into the next chapter of our lives, let us carry these little lessons of love close to our hearts to courageously bear witness to the love of Jesus in all our future endeavors.