CCC 1228

Hence Baptism is a bath of water in which the "imperishable seed" of the Word of God produces its life-giving effect.³² 1 Pet 1:23; cf. Eph 5:26. St. Augustine says of Baptism: "The word is brought to the material element, and it becomes a sacrament."³³ St. Augustine, In Jo. ev. 80, 3: PL 35, 1840PL — Patrologia Latina (Migne).