Lets not leave out that the blood of martyrs is the seed of faith, and that suffering well and dying well is our Way of the Cross, the path most certainly for His Church and her redemption.
Prayers of the Church are a lifetime study of preparation for our dying well. Politics is sometimes irrelevant in importance until it messes with the Church. We actively seek to be not foolish but fearless, by His stripes and death.
Agreed on the prayer that you mention, however, we can pray as we serve others. (And offer up our aches and pains, too.)