CatechismâNounâ(1) a collection of questions and answers that are used to teach people about the Christian religion
(2) a book that explains the beliefs of the Christian religion by using a list of questions and answers. Â (Merriam Webster)
The word âcatechismâ is found on page 4, paragraph 26 of âYoung Goodman Brownâ
My understanding of the word in this paragraph is that the female that Goodman Brown and his companion saw on the path of the forest who was the person that she taught him or explained him about the beliefs of the Christian religion when he was young and until now she was still his moral and spiritual adviser.