Beckett was born in Johannesburg in the Union of South Africa, but was later raised in Edinburgh, Scotland, where her father was studying medicine.

She was sent to England where she completed her novitiate and then studied at St Anne's College, Oxford, where she was awarded a congratulatory first class honours degree[7][failed verification] in English literature.

[9] From childhood Beckett suffered from a weak heart and later had to give up teaching, after having epileptic seizures brought on by stress.

After attending the Notre Dame College of Education in Liverpool and earning a teaching diploma in 1954, she returned to South Africa to teach at Notre Dame Convent, a school for girls in Constantia, Cape Town, where she taught English and Latin.

[2] Besides having received the Carmelite prioress and a nun who brought her provisions, she dedicated her life to solitude and prayer, but allotted two hours of work per day to earn her living.

Beckett continued writing about her interest in icons in the second volume of her Sister Wendy Contemplates series, published in July 2011.

This book, entitled The Iconic Jesus, takes the reader through scenes from the New Testament, accompanied by Beckett's reflections.

[33] In 1993, Sister Wendy recorded an abridged audio version of Revelations of Divine Love by Julian of Norwich.