[3] A selection of his essays has been published in English translation under the title Rooted in the Real (Ghent, 2008).
As a Jesuit, he pursued studies in classical philology, art history, theology, and philosophy.
In 1950, he made his debut with a text on the work of sculptor Bert Servaes in De Linie, a magazine published through Belgian-Dutch collaboration by the Society of Jesus.
[5] In 1958, Bekaert curated the exhibition "Ars Sacra" at Saint Peter's Church, Leuven, in collaboration with art and design critic K. N. Elno.
Well into the 1960s, he played a crucial role in the discussion and theoretical development regarding secularized art vis-a-vis new, modern church architecture.